Lecturer calls for regulation of radiographers

Mr Lawrence Arthur, a Senior Lecturer of the School of Allied Health Sciences,  University of Ghana, on Saturday called for the establishment of a national council to regulate the operations of radiographers in the country.

He noted with regret the upsurge of quack radiographers in some hospitals whose activities had contributed to radiation-inclined diseases such as leukemia and other tumor cancers.

Mr Arthur made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the opening of the 2nd Biennial Congress of the Ghana Society of Radiographers in Sunyani.

The two-day congress is under the theme: “Embedding Professionalism in Radiographer Education and Practice, Which Way Forward”.

Mr Arthur explained that because of the lack of a national council of radiographers the operations of professional radiographers had become a threat to human life since the activities of quack ones could not be controlled.

“These quack radiographers who have invaded the profession do not practice in adherence to the ethical and professional standards of radiology,” Mr Arthur added.

He said the establishment of the council would ensure that certified licenses would be provided to practitioners “so that we can go and close down those operating without licenses and prosecute them as well”.

The Senior lecturer said the School of Allied Health Sciences had introduced a degree programme on radiology and urged practitioners to enroll and update their knowledge on contemporary radiography”.

Mr Joshua Appertey, Brong-Ahafo Regional Radiographer, mentioned the lack of modern equipment, automatic film processor and computer tomography scan unit at the Regional Hospital in Sunyani as some of the challenges that hindered operations in the region.

He appealed to health authorities to include radiographers in the regional health monitoring teams to ensure that at least radiation protection regulations were strictly complied with.

Mr Steven Boateng, President of Ghana Society of Radiographers, expressed concern about unregulated and proliferation of diagnostic centers in the country as a result of the absence of the Allied Health Bill.

Source: GNA