Kozhikode, Kerala: In a first for India’s public healthcare education system, the Kozhikode Government Medical College has introduced an MD course in Nuclear Medicine, marking a significant step in the nation’s medical innovation. The program aims to train specialists in using radioactive materials for diagnosing and treating diseases, especially cancer. Two seats have been allotted for the program.
Nuclear medicine uses radiopharmaceuticals, tiny doses of radioactive substances to visualize physiological functions and detect abnormalities at a molecular level.1 Unlike conventional imaging such as X-rays or CT scans, it focuses on how organs function rather than just their structure.
According to the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM)3, this branch plays a vital role in early disease detection, personalized therapy planning, and tracking treatment response.
Some common diagnostic techniques include:
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans for detecting cancer spread.
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) for heart and brain imaging.
Bone Scans to detect metastases or bone infections.
Therapeutically, it is used in radioiodine therapy for thyroid disorders and radioligand therapy for cancers such as prostate and neuroendocrine tumors.
The new MD in Nuclear Medicine at Kozhikode Medical College is the first such postgraduate program offered in the public sector in India. Previously it was available only in private colleges and premier institutions like AIIMS. The course will train physicians in radiopharmaceutical handling, nuclear imaging interpretation, and targeted radionuclide therapy.
Govt.Medical College, Kozhikode( Calicut medical College) is a premier medical college located in the city of Kozhikode in Kerala. It was established in 1957 as the second medical college in Kerala. Since then the institution has grown into a premier centre of medical education in the state.
The Department of Nuclear Medicine was established at Kozhikode Medical College in 2018.
College also offers a Graduate course for Nuclear Medicine Technology. The technician course was launched in 2024.
Officials stated that the program aligns with the growing national demand for its experts, particularly as India expands its cancer care infrastructure. With advanced PET-CT and SPECT-CT facilities, the Kozhikode institute is poised to become a regional hub for its research and training.
References
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB). “Nuclear Medicine.” U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2024. https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/nuclear-medicine
European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM). “What Is Nuclear Medicine?” Accessed November 6, 2025. https://eanm.org/the-eanm-community/about-us/what-is-nuclear-medicine/
ScienceDirect. “Nuclear Medicine: Principles and Practice.” Elsevier ScienceDirect, 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667368123000177
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