The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Radiation Sources Regulatory Partnership (RSRP) delivered a workshop on the regulatory oversight of nuclear medicine facilities to the Radiation Protection Authority (RPA) in Lusaka, Zambia. The weeklong training from March 17-21, 2025, included formal in-class presentations, in-depth group discussions on regulatory best practices for licensing and inspection of nuclear medicine facilities, and a visit to a nuclear medicine facility at the country’s academic medical center.
The topics covered in the five-day workshop included: an overview of the practice of nuclear medicine; nuclear medicine facility design; quality assurance; equipment maintenance; radioactive material transportation and security; radiation protection in nuclear medicine; emergency procedures; and authorization and inspection procedures. The RPA technical experts showed a commitment to develop a deep level of understanding and awareness of aspects of regulatory oversight that are essential to ensure that the health and safety of patients, workers and the public are adequately protected.
The information in this workshop will enable the RPA to develop licensing and inspection procedures for nuclear medicine and share them with medical providers using radioactive materials for diagnosis and treatment.