Ghana Society of Radiographers worried about unqualified practitioners

Mr Prince Rockson, the National President of Ghana Society of Radiographers (GSR), has called on the Allied Health Council to engage the law enforcement agencies to arrest health facilities and imaging centres of individuals who are not qualified to provide radiographic services.

He said the authorities and owners of radiological facilities should desist from engaging unqualified individuals or non-clinical health professionals to operate clinical radiological installation, since it was against the law to practice without being registered.

Mr Rockson made the call on Thursday to mark the 123rd World Radiography Day in Accra to create awareness about the Day and promote the profession as a viable and specialised career.

This year’s theme for the celebration was; “Precision and Compassion: Radiographers’ Qualities”.

Mr Rockson said the theme emphasised the qualities of the trained radiography, which played a pivotal role in the optimization and justification of medical exposures for better visualisation of anatomical structures.

This according to the National President would help aid in the management of the patient’s condition without causing harm with the use of this energy called X-ray.

He called for trained radiographers in the country to handle patients and also carry out quality control programmes in our radiography departments and units.

He explained that the trained professionals would help radiographers use their expertise to properly expose patient to the optimum doses of radiation and as well obtain quality images for diagnoses purposes.

Mr Rockson said the efforts of radiographers may be thwarted by equipment and accessories that have not been subjected to appropriate regime of quality control checks.

“Quality controls ensure that radiological images are of the best quality and are produced at the lowest practicable dose of radiation to patients and ensures precise ultrasonographic reports,” he added.

He said the Society had introduced courses such as Master of Science in Ultrasonography, PHD in Medical Imaging, among others to meet the growing and evolving scientific and clinical needs of the population.

Mr Lawrence Arthur, a retired Lecturer, Department of Radiography, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, expressed worry about the absence of governing board to oversee the regulation and training of 17 Allied Health Professions for over two years after it was dissolved without replacement.

He said there was no board in place to oversee the training, licensing and inspection of Allied Health Professionals, and appealed to the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene to streamline the sector to function effectively.

November 8 is celebrated around the world, honouring the disciplines of radiation therapy as well as that of diagnostic radiography.

The day is also to remember the vital contribution made by roentgen in 1895, when X-rays were discovered and gifted to the medical world.