EM/Rc17/R.5 m e Regional Conadttee,
1 Having noted with appreciation the document on t he Role of Public
Health Authorities i n Radiation Protection, submitted by the Regional Director;
Recognizing that the increasing use of ionizing radiat ion and the rapid development of new sources of i r r ad i a t i on a r e associated with growing health problems and a re causing increasing public health concern;
Noting that the la rges t contrllmtion a t t he present time t o t he i r rad ia t ion of the population, i n addition t o natural radiation, i s from medical use of ionizing radiation;
Fully aware that the control of i r radiat ion of the population from whatever cause, including occupational exposure, is clear ly a public health responsibil i ty, and
Recalling resolution EM/RC9/R 8 adopted a t the Ninth Session of the Regional Committee which recommended "the enactment of national laws governing inspection of a l l i n s t i t u t e s and establishments i n which ionizing radiation i n any form i s u t i l i zed fo r any purpose with a view to ensurlng the efficiency of a l l protection measures".
1. URGES Member States t o give adequate a t tent ion to the protection of the public and of personnel occupationally exposed t o ionizing radiations,
2 . RECOMMENDS the establishment of Radiation Health Units a t the Ministries of Health and the appointment, a s heads of such uni ts , of persons conversant with the f i e ld of Radiation Protection;
3 . EMPHASIZES the urgent need for enacting leg i s la t ion empowering the Ministries of Health t o es tabl ish a system of regis t ra t ion, l icensing and inspection of X-ray, radioisotope, teletherapy and unsealed radioisotope sources and of t he i r operators;
4 ENCOURAGES the establishment of film-badge monitoring services for personnel occupationally exposed to ionizing radiations, particu- l a r l y medical personnel,
5. INVITES the Ministries of Health t o collaborate with the national Aromlc Energy Authorities and other competent bodies i n the s i t i ng of nuclear reactors, the ecological survey of the s i t e s , the surveillance for radionuclides i n the environment including disposal of radioactive wastes and m the planning and handling of emergencies created by radia- t ion hazards; and
6. REQUESTS the Regional Director to provide technical assistance to Governments of the Region i n the planning and implementation of the i r radiation protection programmes.
September 1967