Finally, Malaysian patients have a national directory for nuclear imaging.
MyNuCLEaR, Malaysia’s new Nuclear Medicine Care Locator, Education and Resource platform, was launched by the Malaysian Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (MSNMMI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
Nuclear medicine is a specialised medical field that uses small, controlled doses of radioactive material to detect and treat certain diseases, including prostate cancer, as well as many other conditions.
The MyNuCLEaR website is an integrated platform serving several essential functions, reflecting how Malaysia’s nuclear medicine landscape is rapidly advancing into the future. Nuclear medicine is a strictly regulated field that has been practiced for over 100 years, with continuous research improving how diseases are diagnosed, treated, and how patients survive and thrive throughout their care journey.
Dr Mahayuddin Abdul Manap, President of MSNMMI, highlighted the significance of MyNuCLEaR: “MyNuCLEaR is Malaysia’s first fully integrated nuclear medicine resource platform, linking patients, specialists, healthcare providers, and researchers across the country. Developed through a multi-agency collaborative effort, with industry support from Novartis Malaysia, the initiative aims to bridge knowledge gaps among patients and healthcare professionals. As a centralised repository of information, MyNuCLEaR enables streamlined access to nuclear medicine services, supporting timely, informed, and coordinated patient care nationwide.”
For both clinicians and patients, MyNuCLEaR is a multidimensional resource supporting access to:
Facilities and services, through a comprehensive, searchable directory of accredited nuclear medicine facilities across the country, helping patients easily locate appropriate care.
Care, by strengthening nationwide referral pathways and streamlining patient flow for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Knowledge, through an evolving information hub covering nuclear medicine practices, radiopharmaceuticals, and innovations such as theranostics.
Continuous professional development, via structured educational programmes for future and early-career nuclear medicine physicians and allied health professionals in Malaysia.
Advancement, by connecting researchers and supporting collaborative adoption of innovative nuclear medicine technologies.
Efforts to advance nuclear medicine translate into tangible benefits for patients, explained Associate Professor Dr Tan Teik Hin, Nuclear Medicine Physician: “There are many innovations in nuclear medicine today that enable earlier detection and more precise treatment, which can significantly improve patient outcomes. For example, prostate cancer incidence is rising and is often detected at advanced stages. Recent advancements known as theranostics allow doctors to detect even small tumours and metastatic lesions using Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) imaging, followed by radioligand therapy (RLT) that delivers treatment directly to cancer cells while minimising impact on healthy tissue. Simply put, these techniques enable faster detection, more targeted treatment, fewer side effects, and ultimately better survival and quality of life for patients.”
In addition to cancer, nuclear medicine is also used for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia, neuroendocrine tumours, thyroid cancer, and heart disease. More information on disease applications is available on the MyNuCLEaR website.
A key real-world benefit of the platform is the potential to reduce waiting times for patients requiring scans and treatment. With Phase 1 completed, clinicians and patients can now locate 31 nuclear medicine facilities nationwide and identify available scan types via the interactive map: https://www.msnmmi.org.my/mynuclear/
Following completion of Phase 2, expected as early as end-2026, patients will also be able to book appointments directly with their preferred facilities.
Sanjeev Balachandran, Country President of Novartis Malaysia, Brunei and Asia Emerging Markets, said: “MyNuCLEaR sets a new benchmark for the nation and serves as a stepping-stone for patients needing nuclear medicine services to better understand and manage their treatment journey. This reflects Novartis’ mission to improve and extend people’s lives by overcoming barriers and harnessing innovation. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to continued collaboration with the Ministry of Health and MSNMMI to advance nuclear medicine in Malaysia.”
With MyNuCLEaR paving the way for earlier diagnosis, personalised care, and improved patient outcomes, Malaysians can expect a more informed, accessible, and efficient experience when navigating nuclear medicine services.
