Nuclear medicine and the supply of radioisotopes must be a top priority for the European Union if we want to guarantee equal access to cancer treatment for all patients in Europe. 

The EU and the Member States should make sure that funding is available for medical radiological and nuclear technologies. At the same time, they should also step up their cooperation to remove regulatory barriers to the supply of radioisotopes and reduce their dependency on third countries for raw materials. 

With this end goal, the EESC opinion entitled Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: Driving forces for the security of medical radioisotopes supply, adopted at the May plenary session, stresses the need to leave no stone unturned in taking action against cancer. 

Rapporteurs Alena Mastantuono and Philippe Charry were both firmly of the view that the only way to better secure the supply of radioisotopes in Europe and meet the increasing demand from patients is ‘if we take bold political decisions and if we have sound regulation’. 

Every year, up to 10 million European patients benefit from nuclear medical imaging when it comes to diagnosing different diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. Radiological and nuclear technologies that use radioisotopes are essential in the fight against cancer at all stages of care: in early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care. (mp)