ICNIRP at 5th WHO GFMD

At the invitation of the World Health Organization, ICNIRP participated on June 5, 2025, in the post-session of the 5th WHO Global Forum on Medical Devices, titled “Ensuring Health and Safety of Patients Undergoing Exams Using Modern Radiation-Based Medical Devices.” The focus was on both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation-based medical devices, which are commonly used for diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment.

The session aimed to raise awareness about the measures currently in place to enhance health and safety in the use of these medical devices, identify areas where future collaboration could be strengthened, and engage various organizations in official relations with WHO in the discussion.

Representing ICNIRP, Dr. Alberto Modenese joined a panel that included representatives from the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE), the International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), the International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (IUPESM), and the WHO Radiation and Health Unit.

Dr. Modenese highlighted ICNIRP’s role in promoting the safe use of medical devices emitting non-ionizing radiation, particularly referencing the ICNIRP Statement on Diagnostic Devices Using Non-Ionizing Radiation: Existing Regulations and Potential Health Risks. Health Phys 112(3):305–321; 2017 and ongoing work related to laser and low-frequency guidelines. All panelists shared their experiences and best practices to advance patient safety in medical device use. The session attracted thousands of online participants from around the world.