PNG Health Officials Respond to Online Claims Over Portable X-Ray Safety

Papua New Guinea’s health authorities in the National Capital District have moved to quell public anxiety after questions surfaced online regarding the radiation safety of a portable X-ray machine currently in use at health facilities.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Robin Oge

The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority said the Delf Portable X-Ray Machine has been carefully assessed and approved for clinical use, stressing that patient and staff safety remains central to its operations.

Health officials explained that the compact digital unit is engineered to deliver clear diagnostic images while keeping radiation exposure to a minimum, making it suitable for both hospital and field use.

Independent evaluations, the authority said, confirmed the machine meets international radiation safety requirements and aligns with guidance set by the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

NCDPHA management added that the device complies fully with global medical imaging standards and has been cleared for use throughout Papua New Guinea.

To ensure safe operation, all radiographers and healthcare workers have undergone targeted training in radiation protection, while patients are protected through the use of lead aprons and carefully controlled imaging procedures.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Robin Oge said the new technology strengthens diagnostic capacity in situations where access to fixed imaging facilities is limited.

“Patients and staff can be confident that radiation exposure is carefully controlled and monitored,” Dr Oge said.