Nuclear Medicine in Bangladesh: Equipment, Hospitals & How to Start a Nuclear Medicine Department

Nuclear medicine is one of the fastest-growing diagnostic specialties in Bangladesh. This guide covers what nuclear medicine imaging is, which hospitals in Bangladesh have nuclear medicine departments, what equipment is required, and how Vvon Technologies supports hospitals and cancer institutes across Bangladesh with gamma cameras, SPECT/CT systems, and full project support.

Nuclear medicine is a diagnostic imaging specialty that uses small amounts of radioactive tracers (radiopharmaceuticals) to image organ function and detect disease at the molecular level — often before structural changes are visible on CT or MRI. In Bangladesh, nuclear medicine is available at a growing number of hospitals and cancer institutes, and demand is rising rapidly as oncology and cardiology services expand.

What is nuclear medicine imaging?

Nuclear medicine imaging uses gamma cameras (also called SPECT scanners) and PET/CT systems to create functional images of organs. The most common procedures in Bangladesh include: bone scans (cancer staging, metastasis detection), thyroid scans (thyroid cancer, Graves' disease), cardiac perfusion SPECT (coronary artery disease), renal scans (kidney function), and whole-body SPECT/CT (oncology staging). These procedures require a gamma camera or SPECT/CT system and a supply of radiopharmaceuticals from a licensed radiopharmacy.

Nuclear medicine hospitals in Bangladesh

The main nuclear medicine centres in Bangladesh include: NICRH (National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital, Mohakhali), BSMMU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University), INMAS (Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences, BAEC — with multiple centres across Bangladesh), Evercare Hospital Dhaka, and North East Cancer Hospital, Sylhet. As Bangladesh's hospital sector grows, more tertiary hospitals are establishing nuclear medicine departments to offer comprehensive oncology and cardiology diagnostics.

What equipment does a nuclear medicine department need?

Gamma camera (single-head or dual-head SPECT system) — the core imaging system
SPECT/CT system — combines functional SPECT imaging with anatomical CT for precise lesion localisation
Dose calibrator — measures radioactivity of radiopharmaceutical doses before patient injection
Radiation shielding — lead-lined walls, syringe shields, L-blocks, and storage containers
QA phantoms — for regular performance testing of the gamma camera (flood phantoms, SPECT phantoms, PET phantoms)
Patient positioning laser system — for reproducible patient setup in combined SPECT/CT and radiotherapy
Radiopharmacy equipment — laminar flow hood, dose calibrator, dispensing shields

MiE Scintron and Spectrum Dynamics — nuclear medicine systems available in Bangladesh

Vvon Technologies is the authorized distributor in Bangladesh for two leading nuclear medicine manufacturers: MiE GmbH (Germany) — makers of the SCINTRON range of gamma cameras, including the PICOLA single-head and ECAM dual-head systems — and Spectrum Dynamics Medical (USA/Israel) — makers of the VERITON-CT, the world's first ring-shaped digital SPECT/CT with 18-minute total-body imaging and 12 digital CZT detectors. Both systems are available with full installation, acceptance testing, staff training, and after-sales service in Bangladesh. Explore nuclear medicine imaging systems →

How to start a nuclear medicine department in Bangladesh

Regulatory approval — Apply to the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority (BAERA) for a nuclear medicine facility licence. This requires approved floor plans with radiation shielding calculations.
Facility design — Design a dedicated nuclear medicine suite with hot lab, imaging room, waiting area, and patient toilets. Shielding must be calculated by a qualified medical physicist.
Equipment selection — Choose a gamma camera appropriate for your patient volume and case mix. Single-head systems are cost-effective for lower-volume departments; dual-head and SPECT/CT systems suit high-volume oncology and cardiology centres.
Radiopharmacy supply — Arrange a supply agreement with a licensed radiopharmacy (BAEC or private) for Tc-99m and other radiopharmaceuticals.
Staff training — Nuclear medicine physicians, technologists, and medical physicists require specialist training. Vvon Technologies provides on-site training as part of equipment commissioning.

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