Act lacks regulation: Doctor

DESPITE an Act passed in Parliament recently to regulate the use of radioactive materials in Papua New Guinea, it cannot be implemented because of a lack of regulations, a senior health official says.
Morobe health authority chief executive officer Dr Kipas Binga said guidelines or regulations had been set and was awaiting National Executive Council (NEC) approval.
Dr Binga said there were three main areas in cancer treatment: chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.
“In the country now, we are able to do surgery and chemotherapy unfortunately, we do not carry radiation therapy for cancer patients as there are no regulations in place to allow for that,” he said.
Dr Binga said this problem was not only faced at Angau General Hospital but was a national issue.
“It’s not only the Health Department that will use radioactive materials, there are other departments and industries that will use these materials and that means regulations have to be in place to control the use of these substances.
He said once the regulations were approved by the NEC, the Morobe health authority would apply for a licence to be able to use the radioactive materials and it would then be able to conduct radiation therapy. “Once the regulations are approved and a licence is granted, Angau General Hospital will procure and bring in the radiation materials,” Dr Binga said.
He said the hospital would then acquire a new cobalt machine to start treatment of cancer patients.
Dr Binga thanked Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd for procuring some of the equipment.