Background/introduction
WHO’s objective is attaining by all peoples the highest possible level of health. Universal health coverage (UHC) aims to provide health security and universal access to essential care services without financial hardship to individuals, families and communities. UHC is embedded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the UN Member States. to be achieved by 2030 (see Figure 1). While all 17 SDGs have implications for human health, the SDG #3 is focused on ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all...
Description of activity and work performed
Radiation safety in health care
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to enhance quality and safety in paediatric imaging under the framework of the WHO Global Initiative on Radiation Safety in Health Care Settings, building upon the ten priorities for improving radiation protection in medicine identified in the Bonn Call for Action [2]:
Enhance the implementation of the principle of justification
Enhance the implementation of the principle of optimization
Strengthen manufacturers’ role in contributing to the overall safety regime
Strengthen radiation protection education and...
Conclusion and recommendations
Quality is an attribute inherent to UHC. Quality means care that is effective, safe, people-centered, timely, equitable, integrated and efficient. Thus, enhancing access to quality radiology services contributes to UHC and SDG achievement. Children represent the future and ensuring their healthy growth and development must be a priority for all societies, with the aspiration that every child realizes the right to physical, mental health and social well-being: this encompasses the ethical duty of ensuring quality and safety in radiology services for children.
Personal/organisational information
M. Perez,WHO, Geneva/CH - nothing to disclose; A. Banerjee, WHO, Geneva/CH - nothing to disclose; W. Were, WHO,Geneva/CH - nothing to disclose; A. Velazquez Berumen,WHO Geneva/CH - nothing to disclose; M. N. Brune Drisse, WHO, Geneva/CH - nothing to disclose; C. Lam, WHO, Geneva/CH - nothing to disclose; A. Ilbawi; Geneva/CH - nothing to disclose
References
[1] OECD/WHO/World Bank Group (2018), Delivering Quality Health Services: A Global Imperative, WHO, Geneva 27, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264300309-en.
[2] IAEA and WHO (2014) Bonn Call for Action brochure https://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/medical_radiation_exposure/call-for-action/en/
[3] WHO (2016) Communicating radiation risks in paediatric imaging, WHO, Geneva. https://www.who.int/ionizing_radiation/pub_meet/radiation-risks-paediatric-imaging/en/
[4] UNSCEAR (2013) Sources, effects and risks of ionizing radiation. Volume II: Scientific Annex B: Effects of radiation exposure of children. UNSCEAR 2013 Report. United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. New York: United Nations