SFDA & Ministry of Interior (MOI), Observed some Radiology Deviations in 343 Healthcare Organizations

<p>SFDA &amp; MOI specialist taskforce observed some deviations in radiology departments ( Diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy) in 314 healthcare organizations and 29 dental clinics in the different regions of the Kingdom during the field visits conducted to those organizations.<br />
This action came as a step towards taking care of &nbsp;the workers in healthcare field, patients and community and protecting them from the potential risks from using the medical devices, radioactive materials used in diagnosis and radiotherapy in all radiology departments. Deviations numbers and types vary from one organization to another.<br />
The major deviations observed by the scientific taskforce in &nbsp;healthcare &nbsp;organizations included lack of a licensed radiation protection specialist, radiology staff do not have radiation dose measurement devices, no updated records of radiation dose for each worker, workers are not informed with such doses, no periodical radiation leakage test are made for radiology room and no records exist for the same. Observations also referred to the presence of patient -waiting areas near radiation rooms without conducting radiation leakage tests in the vicinity of these rooms, the &nbsp;lack of warning signs of the presence of radiation risk in Arabic and English, no periodic tests are conducted to determine the efficiency of protective clothing from radiation, clothing is not kept properly to ensure safety of lead from damage, in addition to the lack of periodical maintenance and calibration of radiation devices which will be &nbsp;reflected on their efficiency.</p>

<p>The most important observations of the taskforce in nuclear medicine departments included &nbsp;that the radiation protection officer is a practitioner who reports to the administrative department of nuclear medicine, some healthcare organizations do not have a license to practice this activity. In addition, the department of nuclear medicine and samples preparation of radioactive pharmaceutical laboratory lacks security control , and emergency equipment (in case of radioactive contamination to occur) do not exist within the samples preparation of radioactive pharmaceutical laboratory, &nbsp;lack of radiation level control device exist in the samples preparation of radioactive pharmaceutical lab, and if any , it is only one and usually not calibrated.</p>

<p>The taskforce recorded &nbsp;some observations about radiotherapy departments of which, the radiation protection officer is a practitioner who reports to the radiotherapy department and that some healthcare organizations do not have a license to practice this activity</p>

<p>SFDA &amp; MOI Taskforce stressed that all healthcare organizations must correct the observations within a specified period of time, stressing that such visits were only initial and will be followed by other assessment visits to ascertain the extent of healthcare organizations commitment to implement the these recommendations and comply with SFDA’s requirements, so as to ensure the safety of patients and workers as well as visitors in radiology departments, and hence improve the quality level of healthcare services provided to citizens and expatriates.</p>