Development of a quality assurance programme for radiation therapy dosimetry in development countries. Report of the second research co-ordination meeting - RCM-650.2 on the CRP E2 40 07, 4-8 December 2000, IAEA DMRP Section, Vienna

The aim of the Co-ordinated Research Programme ''Development of a Quality Assurance Programme for Radiation Therapy Dosimetry in Developing Countries'' (E2-40-07) is to establish national Quality Assurance (QA) networks for external quality audits for radiotherapy hospitals in developing countries. This is done by setting-up national External Audit Groups (EAG) with laboratory backup for operating TLD audits for radiotherapy dosimetry. The CRP offers a standardized methodology, the same for all participating countries, provides guidelines and gives technical support to the national EAG activities. In 1995-1998, the national EAGs were established in Algeria, Argentina, China, Czech Republic, India, Israel and Malaysia. At present five countries have joined the project: Colombia, Cuba, Philippines, Poland and Viet Nam. The current status of the development of methodology and procedures for QA audits in the participating countries was presented and discussed at length. Each participant has submitted the status report regarding the TLD system, measuring procedures, structure of the national EAG and relations with other relevant national organizations or bodies. The new participants are in the process of adapting the procedures developed by the IAEA and revised by the previous group in this CRP. The participants have received information on state of the art of the quality audit networks in Europe presented by Prof. Dutreix. Further discussions followed the presentations of the results of testing of the EAG measuring systems and operational procedures for audits. Special emphasis was given to issues related to legislation and national regulations in the different countries and confidentiality in reporting the audit results. Procedural problems related to endorsement of the EAGs by the relevant national bodies were noted. The composition of the national EAGs was discussed and optimal structures for the individual countries recommended. The contents of the QA manuals for the EACs, in preparation by the participants, were also discussed. The recommendations were given for organisation of the audits and follow-up procedures whenever large discrepancies in calibrations of clinical beams were detected. A document entitled ''Guidelines for the preparation of a Quality Manual for External Audit Groups on Dosimetry in Radiotherapy'' (IAEA internal report DMRP-9806) has been reviewed and specific recommendations given to the participants. The document is being used as a guide for preparation the quality manual for national EAGs. The ''Guidelines...'' include the quality policy, quality systems and quality structures including process control as it is stated in recommendations of ISO 9000 series and ISO/IEC guide No. 25. The standard operation procedures of the Agency's Dosimetry Laboratory for the TLD audits, including maintenance of the TL reference dosimetry system for radiotherapy and operation of the TLD audits (IAEA internal reports DMRP9809 and DMRP9810) were presented as a reference material for the CRP participants. The working schedules for the five countries were co-ordinated and goals to be achieved outlined with regard to the subsequent implementation steps of the national QA programmes. As the closure of the CRP is planned in 2001, the plans for publications of the results achieved by different countries were discussed