Improving Access to Nuclear Medicine in Island Regions: A Cost-Minimization Analysis of Radiopharmaceutical Supply Strategies.

OBJECTIVES

Access to positron emission tomography (PET) services is limited in many island regions because of dependence on externally produced radiopharmaceuticals and associated logistical constraints. This study provides a cost-minimization analysis of 3 alternative supply strategies, with the aim of improving access to these essential diagnostic examinations for underserved populations in remote island settings.

METHODS

We conducted a cost-minimization analysis over a 20-year horizon, comparing 3 scenarios in 4 island regions (Corsica, Crete, Sardinia, and Cyprus): (A) full reliance on imported radiopharmaceuticals, (B) local PET-only production via small cyclotrons, and (C) full local production via hybrid cyclotrons. Total costs included investment, fixed, and variable components, and were adjusted using purchasing power parity. Sensitivity analyses explored the effects of transport costs and demand levels.

RESULTS

For all regions, local production became the least costly option beyond an initial annual threshold of approximately 650 annual PET examinations. Hybrid cyclotrons were slightly more cost minimizing than PET-only systems, especially in larger populations. For 3 of the 4 islands, local production dominated by year 3 to 8; for Cyprus, this occurred later, depending on demand and transport assumptions.

CONCLUSIONS

Local radiopharmaceutical production can be a cost-minimization strategy for improving PET services accessibility in island regions. This analysis may also serve as a transferable decision-making framework for other remote or underserved areas, such as the Canary Islands, rural Australia, or similar settings worldwide.