MoH ties up with IAEA to develop anti-radiation systems

ABU DHABI — The Ministry of Health (MoH) is cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop infrastructure needed to ensure the safety of patients and staff exposed to radiology tests and devices, revealed a senior health official.

By A Staff Reporter

Published: Sun 17 Feb 2008, 8:50 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 5:37 PM

“The MoH is cooperating with the IAEA to upgrade several programmes the ministry has adopted to enhance protection of patients exposed to radiological diagnosis,” Dr Mahmood Fekri, Assistant Undersecretary for Preventive Medicine Department, said recently.

He said the ministry had started implementing procedures related to the proper ways of handling radio isotopes (an isotope is a form of a chemical element whose atomic nucleus contains a specific number of neutrons), and activating contingency anti-radiation plans in the medical sector.

These procedures aimed at ensuring the protection of medical staff and secure the environment in medical institutions against hazards of radiation, explained Dr Fekri.

“Policies on safe handling of radio isotopes and radioactive waste as well as emergency plans have already been devised. We are in the process of activating these safety measures in hospitals and health institutions in the country,” the official said.

Preventive steps against radiation had become a necessity in the light of the wide use of nuclear medicine for diagnosis of and treatment for ailments in the public and private medical institutions, stressed Dr Fekri.

He said the MoH was conducting inspections in hospitals and medical institutions to ensure the safety of patients and medical staff. Detailed reports were being prepared on a regular basis to detect exposure of staff and patients to radiation. The inspection covered radiology devices to make sure of their efficacy and safety,” he said.

The Radiation Prevention Department at the MoH had also chalked out a programme to guarantee the quality of nuclear medicine centres where radio isotopes were used to diagnose cancerous tumours and gland abnormalities, he said.

“The ministry has made around 3,000 radiation tracers available. These devices are used to measure exposure of the staff in health institutions to radiation. As many as 1,572 employees are being tested on a regular basis for radiation exposure level,” said Dr Fekri.