National Nuclear Medicine Scientist/Technologist shortage: Australian Public Health perspective.

This article provides an overview of the shortage of National Nuclear Medicine Scientists/Technologists (NMS) in Australia, specifically focusing on the impact on public health services. It states that there are around 1300 registered NMS in Australia, with only one third of them working in public health. The article highlights the growing demand for NMS services, particularly in Low Dose CT and PET scanning, and discusses the challenges faced by public health NMS, including recruitment and retention issues, barriers to career advancement, and lack of support from educators. The shortage of NMS staff has significant implications for the public health system, including reduced capacity, burnout among existing staff, and difficulties in allocating resources. The article also mentions a decline in the number of individuals entering the field, potentially due to an increase in part-time work, as well as a lack of students in training programs, possibly due to the high costs associated with clinical placements. The information in the article was gathered from various sources. [Extracted from the article]