Global Push to Expand Medical Imaging Gains Momentum at World Health Assembly

The new global momentum for medical imaging reform stems from a Lancet Oncology Commission initiated by the IAEA in 2018.

A landmark resolution adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) is set to accelerate global efforts to expand access to medical imaging, a critical tool for diagnosing and treating diseases ranging from cancer to infectious conditions.

The resolution, titled “Strengthening Medical Imaging Capacity,” was adopted by consensus in May and recognizes medical imaging as an essential component of effective healthcare systems and universal health coverage.

The initiative builds on the first comprehensive global assessment of medical imaging needs and resources, conducted through a commission initiated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“This landmark resolution is a crucial tool to realise effective universal health coverage that includes imaging,” said Adriana Velazquez Berumen, former Team Lead of Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics at the World Health Organization (WHO). “It will significantly impact efforts to tackle the rising burden of cancer and other communicable and non-communicable diseases around the world.”

A Global Commission on Medical Imaging

The new global momentum for medical imaging reform stems from a Lancet Oncology Commission initiated by the IAEA in 2018.

The Commission brought together 27 leading medical societies and organizations worldwide to examine one of the most critical yet unevenly distributed components of modern healthcare: medical imaging and nuclear medicine.

Through its human health programme, the IAEA compiled extensive data on imaging capacity worldwide. This effort resulted in the IAEA Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine (IMAGINE) Global Database, which maps the availability of imaging equipment, trained personnel and diagnostic services across countries.

The database incorporates information from national, regional and international professional societies in radiology and nuclear medicine.

Stark Global Inequalities Revealed

The findings of the 2021 Lancet Oncology Commission on Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine revealed significant global disparities in access to diagnostic imaging technologies.

While advanced imaging equipment such as CT scans, MRI machines and nuclear medicine facilities are widely available in high-income countries, many low- and middle-income nations lack even basic diagnostic infrastructure.

The analysis also highlighted the enormous health and economic benefits that could result from expanding imaging services.

Researchers estimated that scaling up medical imaging alone could prevent 2.5 million cancer deaths out of the 76 million projected globally between 2020 and 2030.

Such investments could also generate lifetime productivity gains of approximately $1.23 trillion, representing a net return of nearly $180 for every dollar invested.

If imaging expansion were combined with broader improvements in treatment and healthcare quality, the potential impact could be even greater — nearly 10 million lives saved and $2.66 trillion in economic gains, according to the Commission.

“The Lancet Oncology Commission provided a compelling evidence base for action for healthcare professionals and policymakers worldwide,” said Hedvig Hricak, Chair Emeritus of the Department of Radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and joint lead author of the report. “Its message is clear: the time to act is now.”

Building Global Support for Reform

Following the Commission’s findings, a group of experts including representatives from the IAEA, the International Society of Radiology, and the World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology worked together to advance global policy action.

Their efforts contributed to the development of the WHA resolution, which was formally proposed by Cameroon and later co-sponsored by several countries including Armenia, Burkina Faso, Brazil, China, Ethiopia and Thailand.

In February, the WHO Executive Board recommended the resolution’s adoption during its 156th session, paving the way for its approval at the 78th World Health Assembly in May.

“For many countries around the world including those in Africa, medical imaging will represent a considerable qualitative leap forward,” said Theophile Olivier Bosse, First Counsellor in Cameroon’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

“A new era is opening up for the health systems of a fragile continent beset by a number of health threats,” he added.

What the Resolution Calls For

The new resolution urges governments worldwide to strengthen national medical imaging systems by developing policies, strategies and standards that improve access and quality.

Key recommended actions include:

• Expanding investments in imaging equipment and infrastructure

• Strengthening maintenance systems and quality assurance mechanisms

• Increasing training and education of healthcare professionals in radiology and nuclear medicine

• Ensuring equitable and affordable access to diagnostic services

• Including medical imaging technologies in national health benefit packages and reimbursement schemes

Countries are encouraged to adapt these measures according to their national healthcare systems and available resources.

A Global Coalition for Diagnostics

To support implementation of the resolution, the IAEA has joined the Global Diagnostics Coalition, a WHO-managed network designed to coordinate international efforts to improve diagnostic services worldwide.

The coalition, launched during a side event at the World Health Assembly, aims to provide strategic guidance and facilitate collaboration among governments, international organizations and healthcare stakeholders.

“Through its human health programme, the IAEA will continue to provide its technical expertise and experience towards supporting countries in realizing safe, effective and high-quality medical imaging for all,” said May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the IAEA Division of Human Health and joint lead author of the Lancet Oncology Commission.

As global health systems face rising burdens from cancer, infectious diseases and chronic conditions, experts say strengthening diagnostic capacity — particularly medical imaging — will be essential to improving healthcare outcomes worldwide.