White Paper Report of the 2010 RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries: Identifying Sustainable Strategies for Imaging Services in the Developing World

Abstract

The 2010 RAD-AID Conference on International Radiology for Developing Countries was a multidisciplinary meeting to discuss data, experiences, and models pertaining to radiology in the developing world, where widespread shortages of imaging services reduce health care quality. The theme of this year’s conference was sustainability, with a focus on establishing and maintaining imaging services in resource-limited regions. Conference presenters and participants identified 4 important components of sustainability: (1) sustainable financing models for radiology development, (2) integration of radiology and public health, (3) sustainable clinical models and technology solutions for resource-limited regions, and (4) education and training of both developing and developed world health care personnel.

Radiology and Global Health: The Case for a New Subspecialty

“…The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), American College of Radiology (ACR), the Royal College of Radiologists, UK (RCR) and the European Society of Radiology (ESR) also have international programs, which provide travel grants for staff and trainee radiologists to serve in the developing world. Collaborations have been successfully implemented in Rwanda and Haiti (5,8,9). The International Society of Pediatric Radiology (ISPR) has also announced expanded international programs for pediatric radiology (5,9).…”

“…Collaborations have been successfully implemented in Rwanda and Haiti (5,8,9). The International Society of Pediatric Radiology (ISPR) has also announced expanded international programs for pediatric radiology (5,9). The American Society of Radiology Technologists (ASRT) has made travel grants available to radiology technologists to provide outreach and education (5,9).…”

“…The International Society of Pediatric Radiology (ISPR) has also announced expanded international programs for pediatric radiology (5,9). The American Society of Radiology Technologists (ASRT) has made travel grants available to radiology technologists to provide outreach and education (5,9). Many NGOs, individuals, and other small groups have contributed to radiology education, services, and equipment donations.…”

“…Yet access to medical imaging in the developing world remains a critical issue. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published in the 1980s, twothirds of the world's population lacked access to basic imaging technology (4,5,6). The same report later emphasized the importance of diagnostic imaging in all…”

“…However, this has occurred in an unplanned and non-collaborative fashion. Well-intentioned individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), professional societies, academic institutions and philanthropic groups have sought to expand accessibility through endeavors such as skill enhancement and equipment donation (4)(5)(6). In 2010, the WHO reported that, despite these efforts, two-thirds of the world's population continued to lack access to imaging technology.…”