Medical physics: The Agency's contribution

The branch of medicine in which physics has made its greatest impact is radiotherapy. The role of the Agency in the promotion radioisotopes in therapy is described. The Agency supplies information as to the advantages of employing physicists in radiotherapy institutes and general guidance as to their qualifications, training, duties and responsibilities. Secondly, training in radiation physics is provided for suitable candidates and assistance given in establishing physics services in individual hospitals. Finally, even when a physicist is trained and established in a hospital he may require a good deal of support in the form of data which he cannot obtain for himself, advice, and general contact with the outside world.