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News: The Maharashtra Cabinet approved the establishment of the High Energy Medical Cyclotron Project (HEMCP) in Nagpur with a provision of ₹300 crore.
About High Energy Medical Cyclotron Project (HEMCP)
- High Energy Medical Cyclotron Project (HEMCP) is a state-of-the-art nuclear medicine facility designed to manufacture specialized short-lived medical radioisotopes for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research.
- Location: The project will be established at Bhansoli (Kinhi) in Hingna Taluka, Nagpur, Maharashtra.
- Implementation Agency: The project will be Managed through ‘Mahacare’ (Maharashtra Cancer Care, Research and Education Foundation) via a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Companies Act, 2013.
- Working Mechanism:
- Particle Acceleration: The cyclotron (special particle accelerator) accelerates charged subatomic particles using magnetic and radio-frequency electric fields inside a vacuum chamber.
- Nuclear Transformation: The accelerated particles bombard stable target materials and transform them into short-lived radioactive isotopes.
- Radiopharmaceutical Synthesis: The radioisotopes are chemically bonded with biological molecules to produce medical-grade radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and treatment purposes.
- Key Features:
- Total Cost: The estimated cost of the project is ₹300 crore.
- Funding Model: A 50:50 expenditure-sharing ratio between the Medical Education Department and the Industry Department.
- Multi-State Service Coverage: The facility will benefit patients within a 500-km radius across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Institutional Integration: The project will support AIIMS Nagpur, the National Cancer Institute, and the Government Medical College, strengthening regional cancer-care capacity.
- Major Applications:
- PET-CT Diagnostic Imaging: The facility will produce radioisotopes required for Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scans used in cancer diagnosis.
- Nuclear Medicine Therapies: The project will support the creation of radiopharmaceuticals for targeted treatment of tumors.
- Cancer Research: The facility will support oncological research, clinical trials, and the development of new imaging tracers and cancer therapies.
