Kozhikode Medical College has achieved a major milestone in cancer treatment by introducing a postgraduate (MD) course in Nuclear Medicine, the first of its kind in any government medical college in India. Two seats have been sanctioned for the programme. This initiative will enable the advanced use of nuclear medicine technology for both disease diagnosis and targeted treatment.

Nuclear Medicine makes it possible to analyse the functioning of body cells at a microscopic level, understand disease progression and provide therapy that specifically targets affected cells while sparing healthy ones.

The Department of Nuclear Medicine was established at Kozhikode Medical College in 2018, and launching a postgraduate programme within seven years marks a remarkable achievement. The new MD course in Nuclear Medicine will pave the way for state-of-the-art advancements in cancer care and support other departments as well.

The Cancer Tertiary Centre at Kozhikode Medical College currently includes three departments — Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology and Radiation Oncology. Over 300 patients from various parts of Malabar seek treatment at the centre daily.

This development signifies a major transformation, as Nuclear Medicine postgraduate studies were previously available only in large private hospitals and elite institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). With the launch of this course, Kozhikode Medical College is set to become a leading centre for research, diagnosis and advanced treatment.

Skilled technicians also ready

Technicians are as essential as doctors in this field. Those qualified with a BSc in Nuclear Medicine Technology, approved by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), are eligible for this work. Kozhikode Medical College also offers this undergraduate course, which began its first batch in 2024 with six seats.

Introduction of Nuclear Medicine PG to bring major advancements

According to Dr T Rosnara Begum, the postgraduate course in Nuclear Medicine was previously available only at leading private institutions and premier national institutes such as the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). The introduction of this course at Kozhikode Medical College marks a major step forward that is expected to bring major advancements in the field.

The availability of trained professionals will further strengthen the region’s healthcare system and academic growth in Nuclear Medicine, she added.