Enhancing radiation safety in health care

The medical use of ionizing radiation has expanded worldwide. Advanced technology has opened new horizons to diagnostics and interventional radiology, nuclear medicine and radiotherapy. While this has improved patient care, inappropriate or unsafe handling of radiation technology can also pose potential health risks for both patients and health workers. There is a need to maximize the benefits while minimizing the harms.

Through the Global Initiative on Radiation Safety in Health Care Settings, WHO is mobilizing the health sector towards safe and effective use of radiation in medicine. By integrating radiation protection into the concepts of good medical practice and health care service quality, the initiative provides a platform for collaboration between multiple sectors and stakeholders to improve the implementation of radiation safety standards in healthcare settings.

WHO is working on the areas of risk assessment, management and communication, with a focus on radiation protection to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure by enhancing the justification and optimization of radiological procedures and preventing accidental or unintended exposure.

WHO collaborates with partners to provide tools for radiation risk communication, to strengthen radiation safety culture in health-care facilities, to develop guidance on appropriate use of medical imaging in patients and asymptomatic people.