Status of Medical Physics in Asia Pacific Region

Abstract

According to a large scale surveys conducted in year 2011 by an ad hoc medical physics working group, the Asia and Pacific region has about 3864 radiation oncology medical physicists. This is a significant increase from about 2410 found in a 2008 survey. The number of imaging medical physicists in the region is rather uncertain as the two surveys did not cover specifically medical physicists engaged in imaging physics work. It is estimated that about 10% of the medical physicists in AFOMP are engaged in imaging work. This number is expected to increase as imaging physics is gaining momentum due to increasing application of imaging techniques in radiation therapy. Despite of the significant increase in the number of medical physicists in radiation oncology over the past three years, the mean ratio of the number of radiation oncology medical physicist to MV treatment machine in the region remained basically unchanged due to a corresponding increase in the number of treatment machines in the region. The regional mean ratio was 1.04 in 2008 against 1.14 in 2011. The national ratio varied significantly between countries from 0.64 in a developing country to 2.13 in a developed country. The survey data indicated that there were much shortage in both radiotherapy treatment equipment and medical physicists in the developing countries in the region. According to a large scale global survey conducted by IAEA during late 2009 to early 2010 on education, training and professional development of medical physicists, most of the countries in the region demanded a master degree as the entry requirement for the medical physics profession. However, formal clinical training was available in only 9 countries with duration of training varied between 1 to 4 years. Four of these countries adapted the IAEA clinical training programs in radiation oncology physics and imaging physics. In countries where formal clinical trainings were not available, informal on the job trainings were given to newly appointed medical physicists. National systems for professional certification of medical physicist were established in countries where formal clinical trainings are available. Voluntary CPD systems were also established in these countries. The survey data indicated a large variation in the clinical training and professional development of medical physicists in the region. Such degree of disparity in qualification and competency is considered as unsatisfactory and can have negative impact on the standard of practice and professional status of medical physicists. External audit of training and professional certification systems is considered by some countries as useful in improving the professional status of certified medical physicists and also in getting supports for training resources. Medical physicists in the region are looking into standardization of training and professional competence and are exploring the possibility of achieving this through independent accreditation. With this objective, six medical physics organizations in the region have become chartered members of the International Medical Physicist Certification Board (IMPCB) and are enthusiastically working to have their national certification systems accredited by IMPCB or other accreditation bodies.