title: Analysis of licensed South African diagnostic imaging equipment.
abstract: To conduct an analysis of all registered South Africa (SA) diagnostic radiology equipment, assess the number of equipment units per capita by imaging modality, and compare SA figures with published international data, in preparation for the introduction of national health insurance (NHI) in SA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The SA Radiation Control Board's database of registered diagnostic radiology equipment was analysed by modality, province and healthcare sector. Access to services was reflected as number of units/million population, and compared with published international data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  General X-ray units are the most equitably distributed and accessible resource (34.8/million). For fluoroscopy (6.6/million), mammography (4.96/million), computed tomography (5.0/million) and magnetic resonance imaging (2.9/million), there are at least 10-fold discrepancies between the least and best resourced provinces. Although SA's overall imaging capacity is well above that of other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, it is lower than that of all Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). While SA's radiological resources most closely approximate those of the United Kingdom, they are substantially lower than the UK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SA access to radiological services is lower than that of any OECD country. For the NHI to achieve equitable access to diagnostic imaging for all citizens, SA will need a more homogeneous distribution of specialised radiological resources and customized imaging guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiodiagnosis, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Joseph Mwamba
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kabongo
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Directorate, Radiation control, Bellville, South Africa.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nel
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiodiagnosis, Department of Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Richard Denys
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Pitcher
mesh_terms: D019719:Diagnostic Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013019:South Africa; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: Diagnostic imaging equipment; national health insurance; resource-limited environment
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