Meeting highlights needs of rads in sub-Sahara Africa

Holding the 2006 International Society of Radiology Congress in Cape Town could bolster radiology development in South Africa as well as the entire sub-Saharan region, according to organizers. The September meeting attracted nearly 1500 delegates, including some 500 radiologists and 350 radiographers from 75 countries.

Although standards in parts of the South African system match those in North America or Europe, the rest of sub-Saharan Africa faces a harsher reality, said Dr. Richard Tuft, president of the Radiological Society of South Africa and chair of the organizing committee.

"We are focused on the needs of radiologists from those countries, many of whom we subsidized to allow them to come to this meeting," Tuft said.

Several radiologists from other African countries have already joined the society because it gives them the benefits of its journals and the assistance that members can provide, Tuft said.

The program covered all radiological subspecialties plus lectures and workshops on issues such as telemedicine and Web-based services of interest to radiologists serving rural communities.