Medical imaging technologies and techniques continue to evolve rapidly and while providing unprecedented visibility into the body, their use mean exposure of patients to ionizing radiation. This is an area requiring attention in Canada.
To address the need for a national strategy and action plan relating to radiation safety for medical imaging care in Canada, a coalition of key stakeholders is being formed, called Canada Safe Imaging. Canada Safe Imaging will be formally launched in the months ahead with invitations to participate to include agencies, professional associations, universities, colleges, national research institutions and hospitals.
One impetus for this new Canadian initiative was to align with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative, supported by 77 countries and 16 organizations, titled the “Bonn Call-for-Action,” which outlines 10 major strategies for promoting radiation protection.
The delivery of health care is a provincial responsibility but a focused national strategy and a unified effort is needed to ensure radiation safety in medical imaging for all Canadians. Canada Safe Imaging will develop awareness and adoption of current and emerging radiation patient protection strategies for Canadians and, amongst other activities, promote needed research.
The Canadian Association of Radiologists is currently one of the organizations contributing to the development of Canada Safe Imaging, and is pleased to be engaged in this important initiative for patient safety as it gains momentum.
Look for more information on Canada Safe Imaging coming your way in the months ahead.