isrrt Newsletter Volume 45. No.2 - 2009

Report
WHO Meeting:
Consultation on The Role of the WHO in
Diagnostic Imaging
Geneva
May 7-9, 2009
Report by Cynthia Cowling, Director of Education
Many stakeholders involved in Diagnostic Imaging were
asked to attend this meeting. Sandy Yule and I attended
on behalf of the ISRRT and joined 26 other participants in
Geneva. There was only one other participant representing
radiographers, Olasoji Ajibulu, Head of diagnostic
Imaging at the Fiji School of medicine in Suva, Fiji. The
participants represented all sectors of imaging including
ultrasound and nuclear medicine as well as organisations
such as International Society of Radiologists (ISR), Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO) and International
Atpmic Energy Agency (IAEA). Participants had been
asked to frame their presentations around The World
health Report 2008 in Primary Health Care, “Now More
Than Ever”.
I will be commenting on some aspects of the discussions
and the excellent contacts and
follow ups that were achieved.
Professor Peter Rinck
provided an extremely thought
provoking presentation which
highlighted the lack of resources
traditionally put to diagnostic
Imaging in the WHO (0.005%
of the budget). He said that 80%
of all expenditures on diagnostic
imaging happen in 20% of the
world, and emphasised the need
for better training in QA, and
maintenance, exactly the kind
of work ISRRT is involved
with. He later spoke with me
and congratulated ISRRT on the
excellent and timely report on
the digital situation in Tanzania.
The report pulled no punches
with regards to the situation
there and he felt more reports of
this nature were in order. This
became even more evident when
the Consultation group clearly
Soji Ajibulu, Cynthia Cowling, Sandy Yule.
advocated the installation of digital equipment wherever
possible.
Sandy had been requested to give a presentation titled
The Role of Technologists and Support Staff. His report
was received enthusiastically and I felt that there was
genuine interest and a realization that all the policies and
procedures will not result in improved services unless the
operators of the equipment are properly trained and given
continued upgrading.
The presentations resulted in some spirited discussion.
What is the role of WHO in screening programs? Is it
reasonable to promote a breast screening program globally
(probably not). Is the Chest X ray returning as the screening
tools of choice in TB eradication (yes, in all probability). Is
there a place for global accreditation of radiographic and
radiological educational programs?
Everyone applauded the idea but
recognized that it would be an
extremely complex task. How
realistic is it to convert analogue
to digital wherever possible and
to introduce teleradiology to the
remotest of regions? Again this
was wholeheartedly supported
but with the recognition that
huge infrastructure, demographic
and technical problems would be
encountered.
Away from the discussion table,
I was able to make some excellent
contacts and continue dialogue
previously begun on a number of
projects and ideas.
Pablo Jimenez from PAHO
remains very keen to work
closely with the ISRRT in QA and
Maintenance issues.
Dr Don Mclean of IAEA was
very keen to see the Maintenance
Continued on page 28
14 ISRRT Newsletter