Over 3,000 X-ray units in state illegal, says DRS report

Thrissur: The Directorate of Radiation Safety (DRS) which was authorised to monitor the functioning of X-ray units, X-ray-computed tomography (CT) scanning centers and cath labs in the state till 2016, has reported to High Court more than 3,000 X-ray units are illegal, and those with scanning machines condemned in foreign countries are mushrooming in Kerala.

The DRS filed an affidavit in response to its notice on a petition citing risks of patients after Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) not renewing the MoU with it for doing inspections in the state for their registration and renewal of licences.

The contention in the writ petition filed by Thrissur DCC general secretary and lawyer Shaji J. Kodankandath was that since Jan 1, 2017, as directed by AERB, the DRS stopped its operations and the procedure followed for registration of these units is through the e-Lora software without conducting any physical inspection by experts either of DRS or AERB.

"AERB is yet to file its report on the petition. After that, the HC will hold a detailed hearing," Mr Kodankandath told DC.

The report filed in HC by K. A. Davis, director of DRS, says that there was no urgency whatsoever for giving the online licence without physical verification and it is a violation of Rule 30 of Radiation Protection Rules.

The report also says that 80 per cent of human-made radiations in Kerala is from medical diagnostic X-ray and if the dose of radiation emitting from the machines is not monitored correctly, it may cause cancer, hereditary effects and mental retardation to the public at large including children.