Healthcare institutions should imbibe safety culture while using radioactive therapeutic devices: AERB chairman

Chairman of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Dinesh Kumar Shukla on Friday asked healthcare institutions to imbibe the culture of safety while using radioactive therapeutic devices.

Chairman of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) Dinesh Kumar Shukla on Friday asked healthcare institutions to imbibe the culture of safety while using radioactive therapeutic devices.

“If health professionals live with the devices in a proper way, safety is ensured,” he said, while inaugurating the 44th annual conference of Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI) in Mangaluru.

He asked health professionals not to make illegal and unethical use of the devices. Mr. Shukla said there were only a few cases of over exposure to radiation. The exposure can be brought down to zero if institutions use proper devices and follow necessary safety protocols.

Referring to the consultations made by AERB with AROI and other professional bodies for framing pragmatic regulations, Mr. Shukla said the safety boards in AERB have been brought down from five to one.

Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, Surgeon Vice-Admiral Arti Sarin said use of artificial intelligence (AI) is going to increase in a big way in healthcare sector. The AI is going to bring in a drastic change in the way scanning, planning and treatment for cancer are done. Oncologists should take up leadership role and foster research to provide holistic care for cancer patients.

Vice-Chancellor of Manipal Academy of Higher Education Lt. Gen. M.D. Venkatesh said MAHE will build a 100-bedded palliative and hospice care centre in Manipal by April 2025. All the services at this centre will be free. This centre will not just be for those suffering from cancer but also for those with other terminal illnesses, Dr. Venkatesh said.

MAHE Pro-Chancellor H.S. Ballal and Dean of KMC Mangaluru B. Unnikrishnan were present. More than 1,800 oncologists and healthcare professionals are taking part in the four-day annual conference which began from November 28.