Shortage of radiologists threatens delivery of health care services

MANILA, Philippines - Licensed radiologists in the country are becoming fewer and threatening the delivery of health care services, a teleradiology provider warned yesterday.

Mediarchives Philippines Inc. (MAPI) said unread X-ray, CT scan and biopsy results are piling up in healthcare facilities in the provinces due to lack of licensed radiologists.

“The backlog in unread or unanalyzed X-ray results, which runs from six months to eight months, is also hurting government’s continuing effort to stop the spread of tuberculosis (TB), which could only be property detected through an X-ray test,” MAPI added.

MAPI attributed the shortage to the discouraging passing rate in radiology board examinations conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission.

“Fewer students are opting to enter the radiology profession and augment the diminishing population because of the low passing rate,” it said.

Last year alone, only 72 radiology graduates passed the licensure examination out of hundreds of batches during previous years.

MAPI estimates that there are only 1,500 radiologists in the country, while many other graduates have gone abroad or have shifted to more lucrative jobs.

“This means only 1,500 radiologists could provide help to 100 million Filipinos when the national ratio should be one radiologist doctor per 10,000 population. We’re missing at least 85 percent coverage,” MAPI explained.

The Philippine College of Radiology has only 902 members of “good standing” on its list.