Lok Sabha Question No. 274 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Inspection of Diagnostic Centres
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: CH. MALLA REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.274

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2016

## INSPECTION OF DIAGNOSTIC CENTRES

*274.  SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) has conducted inspection of all institutions or bodies which are using radioactive materials for  diagnostic  or  research  purpose  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  number  of  such  diagnostic  and  research centres which are registered with the AERB, State-wise;
- (c) whether many diagnostic and research centres have been found flouting the AERB  guidelines  and  norms  rampantly  and  if  so,  the  details  of  norms prescribed by AERB and follow-up action taken thereon; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure  that  the  diagnostic  and research centres abide by the norms laid down by AERB?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
- *****

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.274 BY SHRI CH. MALLA REDDY, FOR ANSWER ON 16.03.2016

- (a) & (b)   Yes, Sir. Inspection of the facilities using radioactive materials for diagnostic or  research  purposes  is  conducted  by  the  Atomic  Energy  Regulatory Board  (AERB)  as  per  the  frequency  specified  in  AERB's  regulatory document "Regulatory Inspection and Enforcement in Radiation Facilities"  (AERB/SM/G-3). The diagnostic facilities are inspected once in  three  years  and  the  research  facilities  are  inspected  on  a  sample basis.

The  State-wise  number  of  diagnostic  and  research  facilities  having registered with AERB are as under:-

|   S.No. | State             |   Diagnostic Facilities using Radioactive Materials |   Research Facilities using Radioactive Materials |
|---------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Andhra Pradesh    |                                                  11 |                                                 1 |
|       2 | Arunachal Pradesh |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |
|       3 | Assam             |                                                   1 |                                                 2 |
|       4 | Bihar             |                                                   2 |                                                 0 |
|       5 | Chhattisgarh      |                                                   2 |                                                 0 |
|       6 | Goa               |                                                   1 |                                                 1 |
|       7 | Gujarat           |                                                  10 |                                                 5 |
|       8 | Haryana           |                                                   6 |                                                 3 |
|       9 | Himachal Pradesh  |                                                   1 |                                                 2 |
|      10 | Jammu & Kashmir   |                                                   2 |                                                 1 |
|      11 | Jharkhand         |                                                   2 |                                                 0 |
|      12 | Karnataka         |                                                  20 |                                                21 |
|      13 | Kerala            |                                                  15 |                                                 7 |
|      14 | Madhya Pradesh    |                                                   7 |                                                 2 |
|      15 | Maharashtra       |                                                  35 |                                                14 |
|      16 | Manipur           |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |
|      17 | Meghalaya         |                                                   0 |                                                 2 |
|      18 | Mizoram           |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |
|      19 | Nagaland          |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |
|      20 | Odisha (Orissa)   |                                                   3 |                                                 2 |
|      21 | Punjab            |                                                  11 |                                                 2 |
|      22 | Rajasthan         |                                                   5 |                                                 0 |
|      23 | Sikkim            |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |
|      24 | Telangana         |                                                  13 |                                                16 |
|      25 | Tamil Nadu        |                                                  22 |                                                14 |
|      26 | Tripura           |                                                   5 |                                                 0 |
|      27 | Uttar Pradesh     |                                                  13 |                                                 5 |
|      28 | Uttarakhand       |                                                   2 |                                                 1 |
|      29 | West Bengal       |                                                  15 |                                                 8 |

## Union Territories

|   S.No. | Name of the U T             |   Diagnostic Facilities using Radioactive Materials |   Research Facilities using Radioactive Materials |
|---------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Delhi                       |                                                  27 |                                                10 |
|       2 | Puducherry (Pondicherry)    |                                                   1 |                                                 1 |
|       3 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |
|       4 | Chandigarh                  |                                                   2 |                                                 2 |
|       5 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli      |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |
|       6 | Daman and Diu               |                                                   0 |                                                 0 |

- (c) No Sir. The diagnostic and research centres using radioactive materials comply  with  AERB  guidelines.  AERB  norms  for  the  diagnostic  facilities using  radioactive  materials  (nuclear  medicine  facilities)  are  specified  in the  AERB  Safety  Code  on  Nuclear  Medicine  Facilities  (AERB/RFMED/SC-2-Rev-2) issued in 2010. For research facilities, the latest AERB norms  are  specified  in  the  AERB  Safety  Guide  on  the  Radioisotope Handling  Facilities  (AERB/RF-RS/SG-2)  issued  in  2015.  The  norms specified  for  these  facilities  include  aspects  such  as  layout,  shielding requirements, availability of qualified personnel, responsibilities of the key stakeholders, etc.
- (d) AERB  has  established a regulatory framework for diagnostic and research  facilities  using  radioactive  materials  in  order  to  ensure  that these facilities comply with the safety norms by way of :-
- a) Licensing [now carried out on-line in the e-governance portale- Licensing of Radiation Applications (e-LORA)]
- b) Review of periodic safety status reports submitted by the facilities.
- c) Periodic Regulatory Inspections and enforcement as required.

In  order  to  enhance  the  awareness  of  the  safety  norms  among  the stakeholders in these facilities,  AERB  conducts  regular  awareness programmes  on  aspects  related  to  radiation safety and  regulatory requirements.    AERB  has  also  been  issuing  notices  periodically  in  the leading  dailies  specifying  the  requirement  of  obtaining  license  from AERB.

*****