Quality Management System and Quality Assurance Programs in Radiotherapy in the Light of Regulations Applicable in México

Abstract

Radiotherapy Quality Management Systems (qms) and Quality Assurance (qa) Programs have been proposed as an effective tool to ensure consistency between medical prescription and safe delivery of treatment to patients with minimal exposure to staff. In recent years in Mexico, there has been an increase in the acquisition of modern medical linear accelerators for the delivery of highly sophisticated radiotherapy treatments with specific qa requirements. This makes it necessary to review the current regulatory framework on Quality Management, to know if regulatory requirements are sufficient for the establishment, implementation and development of Comprehensive Quality Systems (qs) in radiotherapy centres. The objective of this work is to review the current national regulations in radiotherapy qms, in particular those referring to standard procedures, human and physical infrastructure, and the implementation of qs in the practice of health care institutions. Results show a first approach to the implementation of quality management systems and quality assurance programs in radiotherapy centres.

Keywords

• mexico
• teletherapy
• medical physicists
• regulation
• survey