Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates
Building on the WHA76.5 Resolution on Strengthening Diagnostics Capacity, [18 NSA] fully support this resolution to increase equitable & timely access to medical imaging capacity in LMICs through a comprehensive health system approach.
Medical imaging is vital for numerous communicable & NCDs’ diagnosis, cardiovascular diseases, neurologic diseases & cancer. While the burden of NCDs is rising & disproportionately affecting LMICs, access to medical imaging & nuclear medicine, in LMICs is severely limited even though imaging technologies are included in WHO Priority Medical Devices list.
Medical imaging is essential for selecting appropriate therapy & planning radiotherapy & other treatments. Interventional radiology can minimize invasive treatments, & theranostics are emerging as essential treatments for cancer. Stroke is the 2nd leading cause of NCD mortality & requires access to medical imaging for provision of essential medical care. Medical imaging supports the diagnosis of traumatic injuries, e.g., in conflict zones, & monitors health during pregnancy & its complications. New medical imaging technologies are available for point-of-care use, with lower costs & better image quality than decades ago.
The Lancet Oncology Commissions on Medical Imaging & Nuclear Medicine, Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, & Radiotherapy & Theranostics have shown the health & economic benefits of improving access to medical imaging & nuclear medicine for cancer.
Timely & equitable access to medical imaging & nuclear medicine, should be an essential component of the WHO Primary Health Care & Universal Health Coverage initiatives.
We call on WHO, closely coordinating with the IAEA, & Member States, to develop & implement strategies for introducing & maintaining appropriate imaging equipment, workforce training, radiation safety, & quality assurance systems at the national level complementary to those required for in-vitro diagnostics & other diagnostic clinical procedures & to agree on the provision of needed budgetary support to improve access to medical imaging in cooperation with international development banks & international donor organisations.
The proposed WHA resolution will guide the collaborative effort needed to strengthen medical imaging capacity worldwide, both now & in the long term.
The imaging professionals & medical technology community is well positioned & ready to support the implementation of the resolution.