:::
The rate of breast cancer has leapt as the highest among female cancer rates, and the fourth leading cause of death in Taiwan. As mammography is the best available method for early diagnosis of breast cancer, the Bureau of Health Promotion of the Health Department has in recent years actively carried out free mammography screening for women between the ages of 50 to 69. The number of people receiving mammography screening has exceeded 130 thousand every year.
Considering that the mammary glands are highly sensitive to radiation, and most receiving mammography screening are in good health condition, NSC has made the implementation of the mamographic medical exposure quality assurance program as a priority, and actively involved in policy communication and sought the support of medical and health institutions. NSC has also visited medical institutions and inspected their medical exposure QA practices to pin down specific problems and required assistance. The findings of the visits and inspections became valuable reference for drawing new negulations. The Council further held training courses for mammography medical exposure QA for domestic QA professionals, actively pursued relevant rule making processes, and assisted the Bureau of Health Promotion to implement the mammography facility accreditation program.
NSC has finished the revised drafts of the "Standards for Medical Exposure Quality Assurance" and the "Administrative Regulations on Establishment of Medical Exposure Quality Assurance Teams and Assignment of Specialists and Commissioning of Jobs to Relevant Organizations "The mammography is included in the list of equipment which requires medical exposure QA. The drafts of the revised rules are now being finalized. The announcement of the final rule is scheduled for July 2008, with immediate implementation of the mammography medical exposure QA program. NSC has also planned to inspect QA practices domestic medical institutions for mammography medical exposure by the end of 2008 and to supervise the implement of respective quality assurance plans. This will allow patients taking mammography screening be exposed under a reasonable dose, while achieving the best image and assisting doctors in making correct diagnosis.
With the advancement in technology, ionizing radiation in medical application is increasingly widespread. In order to improve the quality of radiological diagnosis and treatment so as to reduce patients exposure to radiation, NSC has actively promoted the "Standards for Medical Exposure Quality Assurance" since 2005 according to Article 17 of IRPA (Ionizing Radiation Protection Act).Currently, six types of radiological treatment equipment,including medical linear accelerator, Co-60 Teletherapy, remote after-loading brachytherapy, gamma knife, cyberknife, and tomotherapy machine are required for medical exposure QA. This amounts to approximately 1.2 million radiological treatments a year with better medical exposure QA.Now with mamography added to the medical exposure quality assurance program NSC is taking another step forward towards protecting public health.
AEC's Medical Exposure Quality Assurance Program Expanded to Include Mamography--(20080609)
Last Update: May 14, 2020
The rate of breast cancer has leapt as the highest among female cancer rates, and the fourth leading cause of death in Taiwan. As mammography is the best available method for early diagnosis of breast cancer, the Bureau of Health Promotion of the Health Department has in recent years actively carried out free mammography screening for women between the ages of 50 to 69. The number of people receiving mammography screening has exceeded 130 thousand every year.
Considering that the mammary glands are highly sensitive to radiation, and most receiving mammography screening are in good health condition, NSC has made the implementation of the mamographic medical exposure quality assurance program as a priority, and actively involved in policy communication and sought the support of medical and health institutions. NSC has also visited medical institutions and inspected their medical exposure QA practices to pin down specific problems and required assistance. The findings of the visits and inspections became valuable reference for drawing new negulations. The Council further held training courses for mammography medical exposure QA for domestic QA professionals, actively pursued relevant rule making processes, and assisted the Bureau of Health Promotion to implement the mammography facility accreditation program.
NSC has finished the revised drafts of the "Standards for Medical Exposure Quality Assurance" and the "Administrative Regulations on Establishment of Medical Exposure Quality Assurance Teams and Assignment of Specialists and Commissioning of Jobs to Relevant Organizations "The mammography is included in the list of equipment which requires medical exposure QA. The drafts of the revised rules are now being finalized. The announcement of the final rule is scheduled for July 2008, with immediate implementation of the mammography medical exposure QA program. NSC has also planned to inspect QA practices domestic medical institutions for mammography medical exposure by the end of 2008 and to supervise the implement of respective quality assurance plans. This will allow patients taking mammography screening be exposed under a reasonable dose, while achieving the best image and assisting doctors in making correct diagnosis.
With the advancement in technology, ionizing radiation in medical application is increasingly widespread. In order to improve the quality of radiological diagnosis and treatment so as to reduce patients exposure to radiation, NSC has actively promoted the "Standards for Medical Exposure Quality Assurance" since 2005 according to Article 17 of IRPA (Ionizing Radiation Protection Act).Currently, six types of radiological treatment equipment,including medical linear accelerator, Co-60 Teletherapy, remote after-loading brachytherapy, gamma knife, cyberknife, and tomotherapy machine are required for medical exposure QA. This amounts to approximately 1.2 million radiological treatments a year with better medical exposure QA.Now with mamography added to the medical exposure quality assurance program NSC is taking another step forward towards protecting public health.
