Chairman, Faculty of Radiology, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Prof. Abiodun Adeyinka, has called on the Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory 

Authority (NNRA) to reduce its regulatory fees.

 

Speaking during the annual Radiology Faculty Day, and Association of Radiologists in Nigeria (ARIN) Day in Abuja, he said it will enable patients easily access the services of radiologists in the country and save more lives. 

 

He said NNRA which regulates ionization radiation practice which includes x-ray, and nuclear medicine among others has  increased the subscription fees for the use of radiation equipment to about N3 million and this is affecting the opportunity for patients, and also the operation of radiologists in the country.

 

“We have to look for N3 million every month to operate these machines. We appeal to NNRA to review their policies. That N3 million or N4 million naira is too high. All the teaching hospitals are complaining, even the private sector, because we cannot run good health care when these restrictions are there,” he said.

 

Adeyinka also appealed to the federal government and the private sector to assist in training more radiologists in and outside the country saying it is very expensive to train a radiologist.

 

 

He said radiologists are very few in the country, adding that there are less than 300 radiologists and about 35 radiotherapists in a population of 170 million people. “It is totally inadequate. We also need to acquire new equipment to match with the training. Training and equipment help with good health care delivery. Radiology and radiotherapy go together. Radiology is for diagnosis and radiotherapy is for the treatment of cancer and other related diseases.”

 

Also speaking, chief consultant radiologist at the National Hospital, Dr. Olubunmi Olatunji, said the NNRA regulatory fees should be waived in government owned hospitals as the high subscription rate is affecting patients.

 

She said the high subscription fees invariably lead to high service charges for patients and this makes them suffer because they also have to pay service charges and others to keep the equipment running.

 

By Ojoma Akor

Daily Trust