78th WHA Constituency Statements
Honorable Chair, Distinguished Delegates
Building on the WHA76.5 Resolution on Strengthening Diagnostics Capacity, [16 NSAs] 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 diagnosing numerous communicable & non-communicable diseases (NCDs). While NCDs are rising & disproportionately affecting LMICs, access to medical imaging, including nuclear medicine (NM), in LMICs is severely limited, although imaging technologies are included in WHO Priority Medical Devices lists.
Medical imaging is also essential for therapy selection. Interventional radiology can minimize invasive treatments, & theranostics are emerging cancer treatments. Medical imaging is critical to diagnosing stroke, cardiovascular diseases, injuries, & pregnancy complications.
The Lancet Oncology Commissions on Medical Imaging & Nuclear Medicine, Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Radiotherapy & Theranostics demonstrated the health & economic benefits of improving access to medical imaging & NM for cancer.
Timely, equitable access to medical imaging, incl. NM, should be an essential component of WHO primary health care & UHC.
We call on WHO, closely coordinating with IAEA, & Member States, for strategies to introduce & maintain appropriate imaging equipment, workforce training, radiation safety & QA systems complementing those for in-vitro diagnostics & to support funding in cooperation with development banks & donors.
The proposed resolution will guide the joint efforts to strengthen medical imaging capacity and access worldwide. The imaging professionals & medical technology community stand ready to support its implementation.