GMC Akola staff working without radiation gear

Nagpur: Despite strict guidelines of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) over 20 doctors and technicians in Akola Government Medical College are conducting various diagnostic procedures like X-ray, CAT scan, mammography etc without wearing the thermoluminescent dosimeters or TLD badges. TLD badges record daily exposure of X-ray or other ionizing radiations this staff faces during routine work to prevent overdose.
Akola GMC is not the only college in state where resident doctors are working without TLD badges. Grant Medical College and J J Hospital in Mumbai were also in the news for this recetnly. Sources said B J Medical College Pune, GMCs in Aurangabad and Dhule and even the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC) Nagpur did not have enough TLD badges for all users.
As per an RTI query by some activists Super Specialty Hospital at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) too was not having enough badges in the beginning of this year but now the problem has been resolved.
The head of the radiology department at IGGMC Dr Satish Sorte and Dr Bhavana Sonuane, head at SSH radiology, told TOI the problem was only for a few residents who had joined new. IGGMC dean Dr Meenkashi Wahane assured the issue had been resolved.
GMC Akola dean Dr Rajesh P Karyakarte accepted that the college was struggling to get TLD badges from the Renentech Laboratories. The company had now authorized by the AERB for supplying the badges but had been keeping the supply on hold for past six or more months due to certain procedural issues.
Dr Suresh Satghare, professor and head of radiology at Akola GMC, confirmed that the college didn’t have TLD badges. He said as per the new GR, the payments for all bills were to be made online but Renentech had not sent the bills. “Though the amount is meagre, just Rs31,081 unless the payment is done in advance the company won’t supply the equipment. We have been corresponding with the company for months,” he added.
Box-
· TLD badges are worn on the wrist or the chest every time a doctor or technician conducts an X-ray/CAT scan etc
· The badges comprise a cassette and a card that contains lithium chloride which absorbs X-ray radiation. At the end of three months, these badges are sent back to the monitoring agency like AERB or manufacturer for decoding the exact amount of radiation
· If the radiation exceeds the prescribed limit, the doctor or technician is asked to stay away from conducting the procedure from a few days to a few months depending on the level of exposure