AccScience Publishing / ARNM / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/ARNM025360046
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

The imperative of quality control in Namibian diagnostic radiology: A standardized approach to medical physics dosimetry

Kaino N. Haipinge1* Vera Uushona2* Sylvanus A. Onjefu3* Vaino Indongo3* Boas Nikanor4 Pomwene Shitumbapo3
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1 Medical Physics Department, Ministry of Health and Social Service, Windhoek, Namibia
2 MATCON Based Solution, Windhoek, Namibia
3 Department of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Health, Natural Resource and Applied Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
4 Department of Surgical Sciences, Medical School, Hage Geingob Campus, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia
ARNM 2026, 4(2), 025360046 https://doi.org/10.36922/ARNM025360046
Received: 6 September 2025 | Revised: 17 January 2026 | Accepted: 1 May 2026 | Published online: 10 July 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

The rapid expansion of diagnostic radiology services across Namibia’s public and private sectors necessitates a robust, standardized framework for quality control (QC), which is part of a comprehensive quality assurance program to ensure patient safety and diagnostic accuracy. While ionizing radiation is a powerful diagnostic tool, its use carries inherent risks of stochastic and deterministic effects, making the meticulous management of radiation dose a critical public health concern. The current radiological landscape in Namibia is characterized by varying practices and a lack of unified QC protocols, which lead to significant inconsistencies in radiation dose delivery and suboptimal image quality. This paper proposes a comprehensive, pragmatic framework for QC designed to harmonize national practices. The methodology includes routine equipment performance testing focusing on kilovoltage peak (kVp) accuracy, kVp reproducibility, timer reproducibility, half-value layer, and tube output reproducibility. This framework is specifically tailored to address the unique logistical and resource challenges within Namibia’s healthcare system, such as the geographical dispersion of facilities and limited specialized personnel. By implementing this standardized approach, Namibia can enhance patient protection through optimized radiation doses and significantly improve the reliability and clinical value of radiological examinations. Furthermore, the framework facilitates the transition from reactive maintenance to proactive quality assurance. This initiative represents a vital step toward strengthening the Namibian healthcare infrastructure, ensuring that diagnostic services align with international standards of radiation safety as set by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Ultimately, this framework fosters a sustainable culture of excellence in medical imaging for the benefit of all Namibian patients.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Diagnostic radiology
Quality control
Medical physics
Dosimetry
Patient safety
Radiation dose
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Advances in Radiotherapy & Nuclear Medicine, Electronic ISSN: 2972-4392 Print ISSN: 3060-8554, Published by AccScience Publishing