TU‐D‐203‐01: The Situation of Medical Physics in Developing Countries

• Published in: Medical Physics 2010-06, Vol.37 (6), p.3389-3389
• Main Authors: Meghzifene, A, van der Merwe, D, Venencia, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer; Medical imaging; Medical physics; Radiation safety; Radiation treatment; Robotics; Therapeutics
• ISSN: 0094-2405; 2473-4209
• DOI: 10.1118/1.3469246

Medical physics has made significant scientific progress in the last decade. The results have influenced the way we do diagnostic imaging (multi‐modality imaging), the way we treat patients with radiation (new treatment modalities), the way we automate (robotics), and many others. It is safe to say that the role of technology and thus physics in health care has never been bigger. Consequently, medical physics research has become more complex and work is often done by only a few highly recognized groups of scientists or institutions around the world. These developments are widening the gap between research conducted in highly developed versus other countries. But even more important is the fact that the gap is also widening in clinical practice. Developing countries often lack equipment or are in need of trained personnel to utilize the available equipment. Shortages of qualified staff and equipment are growing constraints to treating cancer effectively and many experts predict a long‐term crisis in managing cancer. Consequently, not only the availability of treatment options but also patient's safety is ultimately affected. This session tries to educate the medical physics community about the status and the problems of medical physics in developing areas of the world.