State PET scanner remains out of service as oncology waiting list lengthens

There is still no timetable for when North Macedonia’s only state PET scanner will return to service, leaving oncology patients waiting for a diagnostic exam that determines biopsy sites, guides treatment planning, tracks therapy effectiveness and checks whether cancer has spread.

The University Institute for PET (the institute) says the interruption is caused by problems in the production of radioisotopes and that the authorised service supplier is working intensively to fix the issue. The institute added that all steps have been taken so that the cyclotron can be returned to operation as soon as possible.

Maintenance protocols and a string of technical faults

In a written statement the institute noted that preventive maintenance of the diffusion pump, including cleaning and oil replacement every five years, is part of the protocol and that production will resume once all defects are corrected and conditions for uninterrupted operation are met: "With the aim of an uninterrupted and continuous working process, and for following the protocol for preventive maintenance of the diffusion pump, its cleaning and oil replacement every 5 years, the production process will continue as soon as all defects are eliminated and all conditions for its smooth functioning required by the protocols are met" — UI PET.

The institute also said it encountered several sequential active problems in the past two months but did not answer when exactly the service company was notified or when technicians began repairs.

Patients and relatives have posted complaints on social media. One patient wrote that a relative who went to the institute was told by service staff that "there's no chance it will be done by the end of the month" and that she had been turned away three times. Another user said they paid for the scan at private clinics, where the exam cost 79,500 denars.

The Ministry of Health described the situation as the result of systemic shortcomings accumulated over a long period and stressed that the current management is taking steps to prevent recurrence. The ministry said: "За разлика од претходната пракса на занемарување, ова раководство презема конкретни и континуирани чекори за трајно надминување на проблемот – вклучувајќи активности насочени кон набавка на нова опрема, со цел здравствениот систем повеќе да не зависи од еден единствен апарат. Свесни сме за тежината на состојбата за пациентите со онколошки заболувања, поради што Клиниката за онкологија и радиотерапија и Клиниката за хематологија се веќе информирани за понатамошна тријажа преку други достапни дијагностички модалитети, со цел лекувањето да не трпи прекин."

The company NET-Electronics signed a contract in March this year for routine servicing worth about 218,000 euros for a one-year period. Under the agreement the company was obliged to perform two regular preventive services on the cyclotron, which is linked to radioisotope production. NET-Electronics did not respond to questions about when it was informed of the problem, when repairs began, or whether it carried out the scheduled maintenance after receiving the contract. The firm also received the tender in 2024 and in the previous year.

Reporting: Marija Mitevska
Additional contribution: B.S.

Photo: press material from the event