Parliamentary panel highlights deficiencies in the oversight of medical radiation device testing

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A parliamentary committee on Monday expressed serious concerns about the country’s ability to test and regulate radiation-emitting medical devices, calling for urgent reforms in the national testing infrastructure. The Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs,

Food and Public Distribution highlighted significant gaps in the testing framework for essential medical equipment, such as X-ray and MRI machines, in its fifth report submitted to Parliament.

Despite regulatory oversight from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the National Testing House (NTH) currently lacks the expertise and capacity to thoroughly test and certify radiation-emitting medical devices.

The committee recommended creating a collaborative framework between NTH, AERB, and CDSCO to address the regulatory gaps identified.

Key suggestions include developing specialized testing capabilities at NTH, investing in advanced testing infrastructure, launching targeted staff training programs, and forming partnerships with prominent research institutions.

The report also pointed out the limited geographical reach of NTH testing facilities, which are currently located in just six cities: Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Mumbai.

The parliamentary panel urged the establishment of at least one testing center in each state and called for increased funding and better utilization of the NTH scheme to expand testing facilities across the country.

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