Patients with serious oncological conditions in Crete are experiencing significant delays and disruptions due to the PET scan at Heraklion University Hospital (PAGNI) being out of service. On Monday, December 29, around 15 patients were informed that their scheduled scans were canceled because the vital machine had malfunctioned.

Some patients had already postponed the same examinations in previous weeks when flights carrying essential radioactive tracers from Athens were canceled due to early December farmers’ protests, exacerbating the situation.

Hospital administration has stated that efforts are underway to repair the PET scan as quickly as possible, but with the holiday period, it is uncertain whether it can be restored within the week. The waiting time for this examination often exceeds three months, prompting many patients to travel to Athens to avoid critical delays in treatment.

Hospital director Giorgos Chalkiadakis confirmed that once the malfunction was detected, the search for replacement parts began immediately, both in Greece and abroad, including France.

PET scans are essential for timely and accurate cancer staging, determining the molecular characteristics of tumors, and guiding targeted therapy. They also allow physicians to assess early responses to treatment, adjust therapy protocols if needed, and precisely plan radiotherapy to minimize exposure to healthy organs.