Necessity of Diagnostic Imaging and its Lacking Availability

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 50-75% of people across the globe do not have adequate access to basic diagnostic imaging such as ultrasound and X-ray. Studies have shown that ultrasound and X-ray can address 80-90% of imaging needs in developing countries. A proper understanding of what access to diagnostic imaging means is important to provide equitable and effective solutions. It is not enough to be geographically located near a hospital that has diagnostic imaging, but the imaging must also address the local need, be affordable to the country, and be scientifically valid. No matter the location, whether it be in developed or developing countries, access to diagnostic imaging is a necessity and a problem that needs a solution. Potential solutions exist such as the WHO’s technical review titled “The Needs Assessment for Medical Devices” which demonstrates how to calculate gaps in access to medical technologies specifically by cataloguing what type of diagnostic imaging is available and what should be available. Other solutions include non-profit organizations, such as “RAD-AID”, which are working towards increasing radiology services in developing countries. Finally, donating diagnostic imaging devices is another potential solution to address the need for this technology in places that lack it. However, there are many important factors to consider before making a donation. Overall, diagnostic imaging, such as X-ray and ultrasound, have an important role in patient care and are needed in countries that cannot access any other imaging modalities.