(a) whether the Government proposes to set up a new gamma radiation facility for providing
efficient gamma radiation sterilization services to the healthcare sector in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the extent to which such facility will provide support to rural health care programme
of the Government?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER`S OFFICE (SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a) & (b) The Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT) of the Department
of Atomic Energy had set up a Gamma Irradiation Facility for sterilization of medical
products in the year 1974 at Mumbai. Subsequently, two more facilities were set up with the
help of the Department at Sriram Applied Research Centre, Delhi and Kidwai Memorial Institute
of Oncology, Bangalore. BRIT is encouraging private entrepreneurs to set up such plants in
the country and five such private plants are providing services for sterilization of
medical products and processing of food products at Sonepat(Haryana), Kolkata(West Bengal),
Vadodara(Gujarat), Mumbai(Maharashtra) and Bangalore(Karnataka). In addition, six plants are
being constructed by private entrepreneurs – three each in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has given site clearance for setting up of six more
plants (one each in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Guj arat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu)
by the private entrepreneurs.
(c) Such facilities located in various parts of the country will facilitate availability
of sterile medical and safe food products for the benefit of urban and rural sector.