Abstract
This paper seeks to appraise the Occupational Radiation Protection in Medicine and the Nigerian Radiation Safety in Nuclear Medicine Regulation 2006 and other issues connected thereto. It examines the extent to which the regulation governing radiation safety in nuclear medicine protects the health professionals whose work involves radiation exposure. The enabling law for the Nigerian Safety and Nuclear Medicine Regulation 2006 is the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Act, No. 19 of 1995. Section 47 of the Act provides that: the Authority may, with the approval of the President make regulations, prescribing anything required to be prescribed under the Act, hence the adoption of the Nigerian Safety and Nuclear Medicine Regulation to provide for what the principal Act did not cover as it related to safety and the practice of nuclear medicine in Nigeria. The paper also appraises the administrative requirements and authorization of practice for nuclear medicine practitioners, renewal of authorization, personal accreditation, authorization of other activities related to nuclear medicine, inspection by relevant authorities, the issue of non-compliance and suspension or withdrawal of authorization. Other foci of this paper include radiation safety and protection requirements for nuclear medicine practitioners in Nigeria, quality assurance indicators measured against international standards, and implications of the regulation on radiation protection education and training. The paper concludes by identifying the gaps in the Nigerian
Regulation if any and make necessary recommendations for the promotion of safer use of nuclear radiation in the health sector of Nigeria in line with international best practices.