Dept of Atomic Energy to set up nuclear reactor in Visakhapatnam for medical needs, cancer treatment

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) will set up an exclusive nuclear reactor in Visakhapatnam to produce medical isotopes aimed at boosting India’s self-reliance in radioisotopes and making cancer treatment more affordable, a senior Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) official said.

The proposed facility, which is to be established under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, will be India’s first reactor dedicated solely to the production of medical isotopes used in diagnostics and therapy for cancer and other diseases.

“DAE has decided to set up a nuclear reactor exclusively for producing isotopes for medical purposes, particularly for cancer treatment. It is expected to come up within the next four to five years under a PPP arrangement,” the official told PTI.

He said the react