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The article discusses the commercial production of cobalt-60 which use for radiotheraphy and the sterilization of medical equipment and supplies. It outlines the biological function of the medical cyclotrons in hospitals and research institutions. It also cites the increase demand of cyclotron driven by its usage for medical imaging.

The article reports on the closure of the National Research Universal (NRU) in Ontario, Canada due to its scheduled maintenance resulting to the cancellation of tests for cancer and heart disease because of shortage of medical isotopes. The maintenance includes the installation of safety-related equipment, including upgrades to the reactor cooling pumps. These reactor supplies 60% of the molybdenum isotopes used in medical applications worldwide. MDS Nordion company, a life-sciences firm and molybdenum supplier stated that it expects shortages of the radioisotope until mid-January in 2008.

The article focuses on the shortages of molybdenum. It notes that the worldwide shortfall on molybdenum is the impact of the shutdown on the National Research Universal (NRU) at Chalk River, Ontario in 2009. It says that a lot of countries including U.S., Canada, and other part in Europe was mostly affected by the deficits that it resulted unemployment, and the medical profession reverting to other alternatives as the Nuclear Medicine community to get the answers they need at higher rates.