IAEA experts call for robust regulation in healthcare

Effective regulation is key in building robust healthcare systems, a training on radiation protection and nuclear safety held in Nairobi heard over the weekend.

The training, led by officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also noted that the international community should collaborate in making patient safety a priority.

The weeklong course that started on January 8, 2024 hosted by the Kenya Nuclear Regulatory Authority (KNRA) saw the trainers conduct mock inspections in city hospitals, with a focus on strengthening regulatory control of radiotherapy practices.

Debbie Gilley, a consultant and a retired official of the Bureau of Radiation Control for the State of Florida in the US, said patient safety should remain top priority, and that regulators across the world should borrow best practices in ensuring conformity to standards.

“Really our job here was to support the regulatory authority to do a better job in terms of safety and security. We believe that countries must work together, build and sustain robust regulatory authorities,” Ms. Gilley said.

At the closure of the training on Friday last week, KNRA Director for Licensing and Standards Shadrack Kiti called on health practitioners to stick to laid down safety standards and to embrace latest technologies in healthcare are embraced towards efficiency.

Mr Kiti told health institutions to work with regulators in ensuring harmony in procedures and processes that impactservices from time to time.

“It is important that the regulator is well informed and stays ahead of the industry,” he said.

The course was aimed at assisting KNRA to enhance its regulatory infrastructure in control of radiotherapy practices.

This is expected to impact positively in the Kenya Kwanza government agenda of quality health care and fight against Cancer.

“The presidential bottom-up agenda has five key priority areas such as agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises, health, affordable housing and digital and creative economy,” said Kiti, who was accompanied by KNRA Deputy Director for Inspections and enforcement Isaac Mundia and Senior Nuclear Inspector Sarah Thande.

“We seriously take our role in improving healthcare seriously. The same should apply to every stakeholder.”

Currently, there a total of 13 radiotherapy centres in the country and there are ongoing works for installation of two more external beam radiotherapy units at the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital and the Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The training comprised theoretical and practical sessions, aimed at assisting KNRA to enhance its regulatory infrastructure.

Facilitators were from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Spain, Nigeria and the US. There were observers from Algeria, Burkina Faso and Morocco.

Kiti added: “The benefits of radiation and nuclear technologies should be communicated to all including the policy and decision makers so that safety on the utilization of nuclear technology is given the priority it deserves and safety is not compromised.”

Meanwhile, Kenya is privileged to host, through KNRA, a high-level post-graduate course in radiation protection. The course was launched last October and is being carried out in partnership with Kenyatta University and other local institutions.

KNRA Director General James Keter said continuous capacity building will go a long way in building capacity for radiation protection.

“We will relentlessly work with partners to ensure we build a competent team that will add value to our regulatory work,” he said.

“Kenya feels privileged. We have put together a qualified team and will continue to do so to help steer the post-graduate education programme. We have searched far and wide and even headhunted some of the experts to steer this first of a kind post-graduate training.”

The officials said the training programmes are part of efforts to ensure full implementation of IAEA safety standards and code of conduct on the safety and security of radioactive sources.

The code provides guidance to nations on regulatory systems that should be put in place to provide for the protection of the persons and environment from the harmful effects of radiation.

The code’s provisions relating to the security of radioactive sources were strengthened in the light of the events of the September 11 terrorism attack in the US. Some of its provisions relate to import and export controls on radioactive and nuclear materials.