Bolivia has begun producing radiopharmaceuticals at the facilities of the Center for Nuclear Research and Technology (TsNIT), which Rosatom helped establish. The inaugural batch of drugs intended for cancer treatment has already reached hospitals in Santa Cruz and La Pasi. President Luis Arce announced the milestone.
“Today our country has taken a significant step forward. We now not only possess a nuclear medicine center with the most advanced infrastructure, but also the capability to manufacture the radiopharmaceuticals we previously had to import for cancer diagnosis,” he stated. Radiopharmaceuticals to Bolivian clinics
Luis Andre highlighted that Bolivia now features cutting-edge technologies that enable the country to export radiopharmaceuticals to neighboring nations.
Rosatom noted that the new complex is part of a broad Russian-Bolivian collaboration project—the Center for Nuclear Research and Technology (TsYaIT)—being built in El Alto at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level. When completed, the facility will empower Bolivia’s healthcare system to produce a full range of radiopharmaceuticals in-house, supporting clinical trials for more than 5,000 patients each year. In the long term, the operation is expected to allow for the complete replacement of imported radiopharmaceuticals across Bolivia’s network of nuclear medicine centers.
Officials describe the first phase of the nuclear research and technology center in El Alto as already delivering tangible benefits to Bolivians, according to Kirill Komarov, head of development and international trade for the state company Rosatom. .
Speaking alongside Bolivian partners, Rosatom representatives emphasized that the collaboration has yielded notable progress and outlined the next phase: broadening the assortment of radiopharmaceuticals produced and pursuing export opportunities to neighboring markets. With continued support from Rosatom experts, Bolivia is positioning itself as a leading player in the regional nuclear technology field.