Madhya Pradesh hospitals face scrutiny over radiation safety lapses

The State Cancer Institute in Jabalpur has called for stricter checks on medical physicists in Madhya Pradesh. These professionals play a key role in controlling radiation during cancer treatment, yet many private hospitals fail to appoint them. The demand follows concerns over compliance with national safety rules. Under the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, qualified physicists must oversee radiation in radiotherapy. However, private hospitals often rely on doctors or paramedical staff instead. This practice raises safety risks, as untrained personnel may handle complex radiation systems.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) requires hospitals to appoint physicists and conduct regular checks. But in Madhya Pradesh, physical verification rarely happens in private facilities. Government medical colleges, in contrast, follow the rules and perform routine inspections. The institute has also pushed for a safety compliance tracking system. This would monitor radiation standards and ensure hospitals meet AERB requirements. Without such measures, gaps in safety protocols could go unnoticed.

The call for physical verification aims to close loopholes in radiation safety. Private hospitals must now appoint physicists and submit to regular checks. If enforced, these steps will bring Madhya Pradesh in line with national radiation protection standards.