Nuclear Medicine Consolidation

Quality Care Enhancement Across Asian Countries

WP5 Project - 5th Call - 9 Countries
Online Education Expert Training Regional Network Quality Care

Addressing Asia's Nuclear Medicine Gap

This groundbreaking project addresses the critical need to bridge nuclear medicine capabilities across developing Asian countries, where non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for over 65% of global deaths. Leveraging the TEIN network infrastructure under the Asi@Connect initiative, the project consolidates an innovative online education platform to enhance nuclear medicine performance in resource-limited settings across the region.

Critical Healthcare Challenge

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65% Global Deaths
Non-communicable diseases account for over 65% of global deaths, with Asian developing countries facing severe diagnostic and treatment gaps.
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Resource-Limited Settings
Many Asian countries lack adequate nuclear medicine capabilities, requiring urgent capacity building and knowledge transfer initiatives.
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Regional Disparity
Significant gaps exist between advanced and developing countries in access to nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapeutics.

Building on Previous Success

This initiative capitalizes on successful previous Asi@Connect efforts from the 2nd and 4th Calls, establishing a sustainable education ecosystem through routine online lectures, expert-led workshops, and strategic deployment of video conferencing systems at regional institutions. The goal is to empower the next generation of nuclear medicine leaders and ensure no Asian country is left behind in access to advanced medical technologies.

Healthcare Infrastructure Crisis

The nuclear medicine capability gap across Asian developing countries represents a critical healthcare infrastructure challenge that directly impacts millions of lives. This project addresses the urgent need for standardized, accessible medical education and training that can rapidly scale across diverse healthcare systems and resource environments.

9 Countries Served
20 Video Systems Installed
160+ Medical Professionals Trained
64+20 Connected Centers

Regional Medical Network

The project establishes a comprehensive regional network spanning nine Asian countries, with Seoul National University in Korea serving as the coordinating hub. This network leverages existing NREN infrastructure to provide seamless connectivity and knowledge sharing across diverse healthcare institutions.

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Korea
Seoul National University - Lead Coordinator
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Bangladesh
National Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences
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Indonesia
Hasan Sadikin Hospital
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Vietnam
Bach Mai Hospital
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Thailand
Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University
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Myanmar
Yangon General Hospital
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Malaysia
Sunway University
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Nepal
Bir Hospital
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Mongolia
First Central Hospital of Mongolia

NREN Infrastructure Integration

The project leverages affiliated National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) including BdREN (Bangladesh), INHERENT (Indonesia), VinaREN (Vietnam), ThaiREN (Thailand), MyREN (Malaysia), NREN (Nepal), and ErdemNET (Mongolia) to ensure robust, high-quality connectivity for medical education delivery across the region.

Comprehensive Education Platform

The project establishes a sustainable online education ecosystem featuring semester-based lecture series, seasonal workshops, and comprehensive content dissemination through web platforms and multimedia channels. This approach ensures continuous learning opportunities for nuclear medicine professionals across diverse time zones and institutional contexts.

Video Conferencing Infrastructure

Installation of 20 advanced video conferencing systems across institutions in Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Myanmar, enabling high-quality remote education delivery and real-time interaction between experts and learners.

TEIN Lecture Series

Delivery of comprehensive semester-based lecture series featuring international experts, covering topics from medical physics to correlative imaging, with weekly live online sessions accessible across all participating countries.

Seasonal Workshop Programs

Specialized summer and winter workshops focusing on radiochemistry, communication best practices, basic nuclear physics, and advanced imaging technologies, providing intensive learning experiences.

Digital Content Repository

Comprehensive online platform at nmportal.org featuring 212 web contents and 131 YouTube videos, ensuring continuous access to educational materials for over 160 beneficiaries across the region.

Key Educational Activities

1st & 2nd Semester Lectures (2022)
Weekly live online lectures delivered by international experts, covering comprehensive nuclear medicine topics including medical physics, imaging protocols, and correlative analysis techniques.
TEIN Summer Workshop (August 2022)
Intensive workshop focused on radiochemistry principles and enhanced communication strategies across nuclear medicine practitioners in the regional network.
TEIN Winter Workshop (February 2023)
Comprehensive training program addressing fundamental nuclear physics concepts and advanced imaging technologies for improved diagnostic capabilities.
Content Platform Expansion
Development and maintenance of extensive digital repository with 212 web-based educational materials and 131 instructional videos for continuous learning access.
Regional Expert Network
Coordination of expert participation from 13 countries, ensuring diverse perspectives and comprehensive coverage of nuclear medicine specialties and applications.
Next-Generation Empowerment
Active involvement and leadership development of next-generation nuclear medicine professionals from each participating country, building sustainable regional expertise.

Transformative Impact & Outcomes

32 Courses Delivered
212 Online Materials
31K+ YouTube Views
13 Expert Countries

Key Achievements

Sustainable Education Platform
Successfully developed and maintained a comprehensive online education platform through TEIN infrastructure, with all resources accessible at nmportal.org for continuous learning and reference.
Local Educator Empowerment
Facilitated expert participation from 13 countries with active involvement of next-generation professionals, building sustainable local capacity and leadership across the region.
Expanded Regional Reach
Successfully expanded from 64 connected centers to 84 centers across Asia, significantly increasing access to nuclear medicine education and professional development opportunities.
Knowledge Dissemination Success
Achieved remarkable engagement with YouTube channel reaching over 31,000 views, demonstrating strong regional demand for accessible nuclear medicine education content.

Challenges & Strategic Solutions

Implementation Challenges

COVID-19 Disruptions: Pandemic-related delays affected equipment procurement and installation timelines, requiring flexible scheduling and alternative delivery methods for educational programs.
Connectivity Barriers: Internet connectivity limitations in some regions prevented live participation, necessitating recorded content distribution and asynchronous learning options.
Initial Low Engagement: Early participant hesitancy required enhanced publicity campaigns and structured feedback surveys to tailor content to regional needs and preferences.

Strategic Adaptations

Flexible Delivery Methods: Implementation of hybrid delivery approaches combining live sessions with recorded content, ensuring accessibility regardless of connectivity constraints or time zone differences.
Enhanced Engagement Strategies: Development of targeted publicity campaigns and regular feedback collection to optimize content relevance and increase participant engagement across diverse cultural contexts.
Robust Content Repository: Creation of comprehensive digital archives ensuring continuous access to educational materials even when live participation is not possible due to technical or scheduling constraints.

Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being
SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Future Expansion & Sustainability

Global Scaling Initiative

Building on the success of the Asian nuclear medicine education network, plans are underway to expand this proven model to Africa, the Middle East, and South America. These expansion efforts will leverage lessons learned from the Asian implementation to address similar healthcare capacity gaps in other developing regions worldwide.

Enhanced Partnership Framework

A new project partnership with KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) will deepen nuclear medicine training capabilities specifically in Indonesia, while continued collaboration with international organizations including IAEA, EANM, and SNMMI ensures global standards and best practices integration.

Vision for Global Nuclear Medicine Excellence

The Nuclear Medicine Consolidation project is establishing a new paradigm for international medical education collaboration, where advanced diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities are accessible to healthcare professionals regardless of geographic location or resource constraints. This foundation will transform how developing countries build nuclear medicine expertise, ensuring that life-saving diagnostic and treatment technologies reach every corner of Asia and beyond, ultimately contributing to global health equity and improved patient outcomes worldwide.

Sustainable Development Initiatives

Advanced Education Ecosystem

Continuation and enhancement of the web-based education system with regularly updated content, ensuring the platform remains current with latest nuclear medicine developments and technological advances.

International Standards Integration

Strengthened collaboration with IAEA, EANM, and SNMMI to ensure all educational content meets international standards and incorporates global best practices in nuclear medicine.

Regional Expertise Development

Focus on developing regional centers of excellence that can serve as hubs for ongoing education and training, creating sustainable local capacity for nuclear medicine advancement.

Technology Innovation Integration

Integration of emerging technologies including AI-assisted diagnostics, advanced imaging techniques, and telemedicine capabilities into the educational curriculum and practical training programs.