3 X-ray facilities in Mumbai, 2 in Navi Mumbai sealed for violations

MUMBAI: Three X-ray facilities from the city and two from Navi Mumbai were sealed by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) on Friday for functioning without registration and violating other minor safety norms.
Two other centres—Sion hospital and Dr VT Shah Diagnostic Centre and Clinic in Matunga—were issued warnings to comply with the norms or face closure.
The AERB conducted the surprise visits to check on the safety protocols.“Though all these facilities have low potential radiological risks, they have been operating without the requisite registration from the AERB,” the agency, in a statement, said.
The units which were sealed were Pt Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital in Govandi, Healthcare Diagnostic Lab and Metro Care Diagnostic Centre in Sion, and Millennium Life Line Hospital and New Millennium Multispecialty Hospital in Sanpada.
Six X-ray units in hospitals have also been warned to comply with the rules within 30 days failing which they will be sealed indefinitely. These included Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hospital, Insight CBCT and Health Spring in Vashi, and Neway Hospital in Sanpada and two centres in Mumbai.
AERB officials said they sealed the units for operating in contravention of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules, 2004. The inspections were carried out on April 16. Some of the hospitals alleged that AERB outsourced the inspection to a third-party agency, which carried it out in a haste.
“The inspection at my centre in Matunga was carried out in the evening, when it was shut. My technician was not present on the premises to show them the registration papers. They were also not willing to wait or come back the next day,” said cardiologist Dr VT Shah.
Sion hospital dean Dr Suleman Merchant said the hospital was probably warned for not completing the online registration formality. “We have initiated the process. We were waiting for the password for several weeks.” The AERB has recently launched an e-licensing system to facilitate registration.