Unknown when PET scanner will resume, cancer waitlists grow

It is still not known when the country’s only state PET scanner will be back in operation, and cancer patients remain on waiting lists for the exam that determines the location for biopsy, guides therapy planning, monitors its effectiveness and establishes whether the disease has spread.

The University Institute for PET reports that the interruption stems from a problem in the production of radioisotopes and that the authorized service provider is working intensively to eliminate the defects. They add that all measures have been taken to bring the cyclotron back into operation as quickly as possible.

Preventive maintenance and a series of technical problems

In the statement the institute clarifies that, in order to ensure an uninterrupted and continuous production process, and to follow the protocol for preventive maintenance of the diffusion pump — its cleaning and oil change every 5 years — the production process will continue as soon as all defects are corrected and all conditions for its unobstructed functioning as required by protocols are met: “In order to ensure an uninterrupted and continuous production process, and in order to follow the protocol for preventive maintenance of the diffusion pump, its cleaning and oil change every 5 years, the production process will continue as soon as all defects are corrected and all conditions for its unobstructed functioning as required by protocols” – UI PET.

The institute points out that in the last two months they have experienced several problems in succession, but they did not answer questions about when the service provider was notified and when it began working on repairs.

Complaints from patients and relatives appeared on social media. “My daughter was there in person and they were servicing it and said there is no chance it will be done before the end of the month. Otherwise I have been waiting already, they turn me away three times,” one woman wrote three weeks ago. Others reported that they paid for the scan in private hospitals, where it cost 79,500 denars.

The Ministry of Health explained the situation as a consequence of systemic omissions accumulated over a longer period and pointed out that the current leadership is taking concrete steps to permanently overcome the problem. The Ministry said: “Unlike the previous practice of neglect, this leadership is taking concrete and continuous steps to permanently overcome the problem – including activities aimed at procuring new equipment, so that the health system no longer depends on a single device. We are aware of the gravity of the situation for patients with oncological diseases, which is why the Clinic of Oncology and Radiotherapy and the Clinic of Hematology have already been informed about further triage through other available diagnostic modalities, so that treatment does not suffer interruption.”

The company NET-Electronics signed the contract for regular servicing in March this year in the amount of around €218,000, for a duration of one year. According to the contract, the company must perform two regular preventive services on the cyclotron, which is connected to the production of radioisotopes. By the time of publication, NET-Electronics had not responded when they were notified about the problem, when they began working on repairs, or whether they had carried out a regular service since receiving the contract. The company also received the tender for servicing the PET scanner in 2024 and last year.

Written by: Marija Mitevska
Additional contribution: B.S.

Photo: press material from the event