Strengthening Medical Imaging Capacity: The Time is Now

Imaging is a pillar of modern medicine. However, access to imaging is scarce in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the toll of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is disproportionately large and growing. Each year, about 17 million people die prematurely from NCDs, 86% of them in LMICs. Imaging modalities, including ultrasound, mammography, CT, and MRI, as well as nuclear medicine imaging modalities such as SPECT and PET, play crucial roles throughout the healthcare continuum. Imaging is essential at every step of cancer care and for the optimal diagnosis and management of other non-communicable diseases, including stroke and ischemic heart disease – the world’s leading causes of death. Furthermore, imaging is critical for addressing respiratory illnesses, as well as traumas due to combat injuries and other causes.

To strengthen medical imaging capacity in low-resource settings, a unique and complex collaborative effort is required, both in the short-term and in the long-term. Join us at our side event, where we will discuss effective strategies for expanding access to medical imaging infrastructure in low-resource settings, while raising awareness and mobilizing support for the WHA resolution on strengthening medical imaging capacity, primarily for managing NCDs.