Concern grows over medical radioisotopes post-Brexit

The European Scrutiny Committee said the U.K. government needs to explain how it will ensure a secure supply of medical radioisotopes after Brexit.

The committee's concern comes in the light of the serious shortage of radioisotopes several years ago due to the prolonged shutdown of supply reactors in Canada and the Netherlands. The principal material, molybdenum-99, is not produced in the U.K. and its decay product (technetium-99m) is used for 90% of medical interventions involving radioisotopes. Molybdenum cannot be stockpiled as it has a half-life of only 66 hours.

The supply of medical radioisotopes is becoming more fragile and requires a coordinated approach; the European Scrutiny Committee seeks assurance from the government and an explanation of how the U.K. will develop its own policy, the committee said.

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