21 Jul SAHPRA’s Radiation Control Unit delivers Compliance Workshop @ NICD
21 July 2022
Johannesburg – The Radiation Control Unit of the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) delivered an informative Compliance Workshop at the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Thursday, 21 July 2022.
Radiation Control Manager, Kgomotso Tlhapi, led the workshop during the first session of the day by providing a broad overview of the role of SAHPRA in healthcare. Deputy Manager: X-Ray Licencing, Mqondisi Maphophe, presented the specifics of compliance requirements. Radiation Scientist Natalie de Koker educated participants on how the SAHPRA electronic submission process works within Radiation Control.
The second session of the day featured the quality assurance process focusing on areas of diagnostic radiology, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine. Dixie Chetty and Esther Matabane, both Assistant Managers within Inspectorate, spoke about diagnostic radiology Quality Assurance and explained their role in protecting the public and radiation workers against exposure to radiation, and to guard against incorrect diagnosis by way of reducing apparatus and operator faults. Phineas Mahlangu, Deputy Manager: Inspectorate, spoke about quality assurance within nuclear medicine, highlighting areas of governance, regulations, licensing and tests to guidelines.
Colbert Ditsepu, Deputy Manager for Radiation Devices Management, provided pertinent information on the licensing process of Non-Ionising Radiation Medical Devices (NirMed) underlining various radiation medical devices.
Maureen Minyuku and Malcolm April, both Chief Radiation Control Officers within Inspectorate, emphasised the inspection process and the impact of non-compliance and enforcement.
The workshop was attended by radiographers and medical physicists within the Oral Health and Therapeutic Services from Gauteng Provincial Health and there was a great deal of engagement by participants. There are more workshops in the pipeline to create more awareness and understanding of Radiation Control and SAHPRA as the national regulator.
Role of Radiation Control: Radiation Control regulates all activities involving electronic generators of ionising radiation as well as radioactive sources used outside the nuclear fuel cycle. The aim is to protect patients, radiation workers, the public and the environment against over-exposure to ionising radiation, without limiting its beneficial use.