Govt issues regulations on nuclear medicine, radiography to protect citizens from effects of cancer

Government has issued a Statutory Instrument on nuclear medicine and radiography regulations with a view to provide a compliance and governance framework.

These regulations covered Ionising Radiation Protection (Nuclear Medicine) regulations 2024 and Ionising Radiation Protection (Radiography) regulations 2024.

Technology and Science Minister, Felix Mutati, said the Statutory Instruments sought to strengthen protection of the citizens from effects of cancer by developing safety standards to be executed in collaborative effort.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka on Friday, Mutati said the governance and compliance framework under the Statutory Instruments defined areas of collaboration between the Radiation Protection Authority and Ministry of Health as they dealt with the critical matter of ensuring safety in the application of nuclear medicine and radiation.

The minister said whilst government had a framework in place, it was determined to protect citizens from effects of cancer.

He said government was working together with the International Atomic Agency to create capacity for healthcare workers in Zambia where every year, at least four personnel would be taken for capacity building and appropriate training by the agency.

On cancer infrastructure, Mutati said government had invested 25 million dollars in the construction of a new nuclear and cancer centre in Ndola whose works are underway in order to help manage cancer patients that are increasing by the day.

He, however, noted the need for relevant authorities to put in place a serious awareness campaign on cancer because patients are usually brought for treatment when it is almost too late or when it has become expensive to provide a solution to patients.

Mutati said through the awareness, the country would be able to minimize the mortality rate arising out of cancer.

He said government was also paying attention to the almost obsolete equipment at the UTH Cancer Diseases Hospital working with a atomic energy agency in order to update the equipment.

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