Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2019
Keywords:
Action 11 - Dialogue with industry, Action 3 - Image quality assessment based on clinical indications, Action 13 - Stakeholder engagement and collaboration, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Nuclear medicine, CT, Nuclear medicine conventional, Equipment, Technical aspects, Safety, Occupational / Environmental hazards, Radiotherapy techniques, Quality assurance
Authors:
B. C. Godthelp, K. Van Slambrouck
DOI:
10.26044/esi2019/ESI-0096
Background/introduction
Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM lays down the basic safety standards for the protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation.
This includes the protection of workers,
public and environment as well as protection of patients.
All EC member states were obliged to bring into force the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions that are necessary to comply with this Directive by 6 February 2018.
Heads of the European Radiological Protection Competent Authorities (HERCA) is a voluntary association in which the Heads of Radiation Protection Authorities work together in order to identify common issues and propose practical solutions for these issues.
HERCA is working on topics generally covered by provisions of the EURATOM Treaty.
The programme of work of HERCA is based on common interest in significant regulatory issues.
HERCA brings together 56 radiation protection Authorities from 33 European countries.
Current fields of activity of HERCA include Medical Applications,
Emergency Preparedness and Response,
Veterinary applications,
Research and Industrial Sources and Practices,
Radon,
NORM and Building Materials,
and Education and Training.
HERCA activities on medical applications are under the responsibility of the Working Group on Medical Applications (WGMA).
This HERCA working group is interested in all radiation protection issues concerning medical applications of ionising radiation for diagnosis,
therapy and research,
including patients and occupational exposures.
The WGMA focusses on:
-
Enhancing common understanding and approaches,
where possible,
regarding the implementation of the radiation protection regulation,
such as the council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM,
on medical applications.
-
Engaging in stakeholder involvement on radiation protection issues by:
-
enhancing the information exchange on best available radiation protection practices between regulatory bodies and other relevant competent authorities,
professional bodies and organisations,
professionals,
manufacturers and suppliers and patient organisations.
-
Enhancing the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge and of experience,
between stakeholders’ representatives and regulatory bodies.
-
Co-coordinating national efforts under the umbrella of HERCA to maximize impact in stakeholder involvement.
Since the publication of council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM,
the WGMA has focused its work mainly on issues related to the directive transposition including development of a stakeholder/HERCA platform for discussion through the organization of several workshops and multi-stakeholders meetings,
and the publication of position papers.