Many X-Ray centres across country without AERB certificate

Thousands of X-Ray units/ facilities spread across the country have not applied for a certificate for safe X-Ray and radiation from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V Narayanasamy said today.
In a written response to a question in Rajya Sabha on whether thousands of X-Ray clinics, including nursing homes, across the country have not applied for a certificate of safe X-Ray and radiation from the AERB, the minister responded in affirmative.
The minister did not give any number of X-ray centers which have defaulted in securing a certificate.
He further said AERB has undertaken a series of measures to bring such radiation centers under the radiation safety certification of AERB. For a more effective regulatory set-up for controlling the X-Ray units, AERB has been pursuing with state governments to form state-level Directorates of Radiation Safety (DRS).

AERB has signed MOUs with ten states (Kerala, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Odhisa). Progress on MOUs with the remaining state governments was in progress.
Apart from it, AERB has planned an improved regulatory model for effective regulation of such large X-Ray units.
Under this, a new web-based system will be initiated, which will enable easy filling of applications and issuance of registration of radiation applications. This will also include awareness programmes among stakeholders through advertisements.