Kerala’s GMC Kozhikode Starts India’s First Government PG Courses in Nuclear Medicine

Thiruvananthapuram: In a landmark development for medical education in India, the Government Medical College (GMC), Kozhikode, has commenced a postgraduate (PG) course in Nuclear Medicine, making it the first government medical institution in the country to offer such training. Classes for the course began last week, following the assurance that all required facilities and faculty standards, including PET scan services, are in place. Alongside, the B.Sc. Nuclear Medicine programme has also been initiated, and similar facilities are being established at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.

Health Minister Veena George highlighted the significance of this achievement on her official Facebook page, noting that “for the first time in the country, a PG course in Nuclear Medicine has been started in a government medical college.” She emphasised that the initiative will help Kerala produce more expert doctors in specialised cancer treatment, strengthening the State’s capacity to provide modern, evidence -based care.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) approval for these PG seats marks a major step forward in Kerala’s efforts to expand specialist medical training and enhance cancer care capabilities. Nuclear Medicine, which combines diagnostic imaging with targeted radionuclide therapy, is central to accurate cancer detection, staging, and treatment planning. Until now, PG courses in this field were largely limited to centrally funded or private institutions. With this new development, Kerala becomes the first State in India to offer such training in a public sector medical college, improving accessibility and affordability for aspiring specialists.

Minister Veena George stated, “The inclusion of advanced specialities such as Nuclear Medicine and Radiation Oncology in the postgraduate curriculum of our government medical institutions will significantly strengthen Kerala’s capacity to diagnose and treat cancer using modern methods. These initiatives will also reduce our dependence on private sector facilities for high-end diagnostics and therapy.”

This pioneering move is expected to have a transformative impact on the State’s health infrastructure, equipping more doctors with specialised expertise and expanding public access to advanced cancer care.