Medical imaging practitioners reject National Council of Radiology Bill

Medical radiographers and radiation scientists under the aegis of the Medical Imaging Society of Nigeria (MISON) have condemned the proposed National Council of Radiology and Radiation Medicine (NCR) Bill in the National Assembly.

The private bill was sponsored in the House of Representatives by Patrick Asadu, a medical doctor.

Briefing newsmen at the weekend, MISON members said the bill proposes to “regulate radiologists who are already being regulated by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, radiographers who are already regulated by the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria(RRBN) , Nigerian Nuclear and Regulatory Agency (NNRA) that already regulates equipment and premises used for radiation activities , radiation nurses already regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria , Biomedical Engineers and X-ray technicians among others.”

Mr Stanley Chima Ibe and Dr Anthony Ugwu who spoke on behalf of the group said the bill did not promote international best practices but duplicates the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) Act , and would add to the already N2.06bn being spent by the federal government in running all regulating boards in the health sector , as well as cause conflicts and disharmony that could lead to more industrial actions.

The association called on the federal and state governments to strengthen the capacity of the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria through increased penalties for radiation offenders as well as amend the act to strengthen extant laws establishing it.