Status of Radiation Safety and Emerging Challenges in Radiology in Nepal Calling for Strong Safety Measures - Abstract
Nepal is a poor country with low expenditure on health care and limited resources in Radiology field. However, radiology service is improving with several up-to-date diagnostic and radiotherapy facilities, the quality assurance and radiation safety are still lacking in Nepal. Lack of proper radiation policies, qualified work force and awareness of the uses of radiation energy are the major issues of radiology in Nepal. Around 400 radiographers are available in Nepal who is working under the pressure of high patients load. Due to lack of men power, more than 100 unqualified persons without a proper radiography education are working for radiographers. These unqualified radiographers unknowingly use high doses of radiation energy and working under a high risk of radiation hazard. Provisions of radiation protection for staffs, patients, and public around are very poor in Nepal. Most of the X-ray clinics are running without minimum requirements of quality assurance and radiation protection. More than 50% of the populations of Nepal do not understand benefits and hazard of radiation energy. The international atomic energy agency (IAEA) has urged the Government of Nepal to enact nuclear law and establish an Atomic Energy Commission
to deal with nuclear issues. Although, Nepal is an IAEA member, the Government has not yet given a serious focus on radiation issues. The purpose of this article is to explore the current situation and alert for urgent need to improve and develop the infrastructure of radiology field in Nepal for quality assurance and safety facing emerging mountainous challenges.