| India is the second most populous country in the world, where many unauthorized persons handle hazardous radiation and expose the general public without proper knowledge. We achieved freedom in 1947, but so far we have not been able to constitute a licensing authority and a council for radiographers' which issue work permit to the authorized persons. Even in small countries like Japan, Kuwait, Philippines, Thailand, UK, Australia, Germany etc. have radiographers' council and have proper licensing authorities. With their approval the candidates are entitled for the work permit . Today's need is that we must have a Radiographers' council which can issue the work permit to the authorized persons only. In the field of radiology tremendous surge of newer imaging modalities have been developed such as CT, MRI, DSA, Ultrasound, Mammography, Digital Radiography, CR system, High frequency generator, automatic film processors, Dry film processors, Cobalt, Linac. CT Simulators, Gamma camera etc. These medical technology equipments are handled by the radiographers. Before handling these sophisticated equipments the radiographer need to update their basic knowledge such as application and physics of the equipment. With these responsibilities the Radiographer is not only to handle the equipments or to take the x-ray and hand over the film to the patient but he has to apply the proper radiographic technique and produce good quality images with least possible radiation dose to the patient. For qualified radiographers in our country the avenue are very small and the result is, qualified radiographers are leaving our country and joining Western or Gulf countries because of better prospects and for the greener pastures. Further more they are approaching different kind of professions like sales, marketing, applications specialist or in research and development sections of industries. Government of India has to look in new perspective and take proper measures so that qualified Radiographers and Radiological Technologists are encouraged to stay back and to serve our mother land. In the end, I am thankful to all the members of IART for their support who elected me once again as Editor for the period of 2006-2008 and gave me the opportunity to bring out this `Roentgen Technology' Journal of Indian Association of Radiological Technologists (IART) . I would like to thank on behalf of my editorial committee, all the authors who contributed their articles for this journal and also to the trade who helped us in publishing of this Journal.
Lalit K. Gupta |
