WHO`s Radiation Programme is aimed to protect patients,
workers and public under planned,
existing and emergency exposure situations.
Under this programme,
WHO is conducting a Global Initiative on Radiation Safety in Health Care Settings (RSHCS) to mobilize the health sector to maximize the benefits of the use of radiation in medicine,
with the least possible level of risk [Perez,
2015] M .
This initiative,
which includes activities in the area of risk assessment,
management and communication,
seeks to integrate radiation safety into the concept of good medical practice.
It brings together relevant stakeholders in concerted action to enhance the application of radiation safety standards in healthcare settings [BSS,
2014].
The initiative is currently focused on promoting the ten priority actions identified in the “Bonn Call for Action” (BCfA) to enhance radiation protection in medicine [IAEA & WHO 2014].
A summary of some WHO activities related to the BCfA is provided below.
Action
|
Activity
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1.
Enhance the implementation of the principle of justification
|
WHO collaboration with the IAEA,
HERCA,
ISR,
WONCA and other key stakeholders to support the adoption,
adaptation,
implementation and use of clinical imaging guidelines (CIGs) in different regions (e.g.
joint workshops,
guidance,
training).
WHO project on justification of medical imaging of asymptomatic people for individual health assessment-IHA (expert consultation in 2014,
international workshop and peer reviewed paper in 2016,
policy guidance document during 2017-2018).
|
2.
Enhance the implementation of the principle of optimization of protection and safety
|
WHO contribution to IAEA,
EC and ICRP projects/activities on dose reduction techniques,
patient dose recording,
establishment of DRLs & PiDRLs,
WHO advocacy among health authorities (e.g.
side event "Imaging for saving kids" at the World Health Assembly).
|
3.
Strengthen manufacturers’ role in contributing to the overall safety regime
|
WHO official relations with Global Diagnostic imaging,
healthcare,
IT and radiation Therapy Trade Association (DITTA),
joint collaboration workplan,
engagement of DITTA representatives in WHO projects (e.g.
safety culture),
|
4.
Strengthen radiation protection education and training of health professionals
|
Focus on education and training of referrers: training materials on justification for referring physicians, special sessions in meetings of paediatrics societies,
workshops for family physicians (e.g.
WONCA conferences),
|
5.
Shape and promote a strategic research agenda (SRA) for radiation protection in medicine
|
Two of the six WHO core functions are research-related i.e.
“articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options” and “shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation,
translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge.
WHO provides input to initiatives related to medical RP research priority setting and promotes the implementation of SRAs in this field (e.g.
cooperation with EC on MELODI and EURAMED).
|
6.
Increase availability of improved global information on medical exposures and occupational exposures in medicine
|
Arrangement for cooperation between UNSCEAR and WHO for cooperation on periodic collection and exchange of relevant data on global and regional uses of ionizing radiation in medicine (collaboration on the UNSCEAR Global Survey on medical exposures and occupational exposures of health workers)
|
7.
Improve prevention of medical radiation incidents and accidents
|
Foster integration of radiation safety reporting systems (e.g.
SAFRON,
SAFRAN) into the existing reporting and learning systems in health care (e.g.
injection safety,
haemovigilance,
pharmacovigilance,
medical device vigilance,
others); harmonization of common principles,
standards,
classifications,
definitions and tools across disciplines and countries.
|
8.
Strengthen radiation safety culture in health care
|
WHO-IRPA-IOMP project for the development of a document providing a framework for the establishment and maintenance of a Radiation Safety Culture in Health Care (series of workshops to collect stakeholders feedback feed-back in different regions of the world e.g.
Latin America & Europe,
2015; Africa in 2016,
Middle East and Asia ,
2017; North America,
2018).
|
9.
Foster an improved radiation benefit-risk-dialogue
|
Project on radiation risk communication in health care to provide information,
guidance and tools to support healthcare discussions about benefit and risk.
Tool published in 2016 [WHO,2016],
currently working on derivative products (e.g.
leaflet for patients/parents,
risk communication training package for health professionals).
|
10.
Strengthen the implementation of safety requirements globally
|
WHO is one of the eight international organizations which adopted the new BSS,
and is currently cooperating with the IAEA and the other cosponsors to support BSS implementation (e.g. joint organization of regional/ national BSS workshops,
factsheets,
joint development of the safety guide on RP in medicine)
|