Advancing radiopharmaceutical services in Anglophone Africa

Introduction: There is a striking paradigm shift in the disease profile of Africans. There is a rising burden of non-communicable and chronic diseases and a decline in communicable diseases, while some countries are battling the coexistence of communicable and non-communicable diseases. There is an increased demand for radiopharmaceutical and nuclear medicine services, which are essential for the early diagnosis of diseases and management of an array of non-communicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular, oncological, and neurodegenerative diseases. Method: A cross-sectional, online qualitative study design was used. Data were collected through online focus group interviews. Results: Four main themes were identified: (1) Establishing local and international collaborations and donor support, (2) Increasing facilities for radiopharmaceutical services, (3) Benchmarking and improving radiopharmaceutical education, and (4) Government intervention. The findings indicate that the growth of radiopharmaceutical services in Africa largely depends on concerted action from provincial and national governments. Conclusion: Efforts have been made in Africa to try to expand radiopharmaceutical services and meet population demand. However, much still needs to be done, and it is achievable, as evident in other countries of similar socioeconomic status, such as Iran, where significant advancement in radiopharmaceutical services occurred.