Experts query exclusion from nuclear preparations
Experts query exclusion from nuclear preparations
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Nuclear Medicine Experts
queried yesterday its exclusion from Indonesia's preparations for
the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant.
Subur Budiman, deputy chairman of the association, said that,
ideally, doctors would be involved in the preparations from the
outset.
"We hope that health experts who understand the effects of
nuclear radiation will be involved from the start in the
planning," Subur told reporters.
He said that the association has yet to be consulted over the
plan to build a nuclear power plant in Ujungwatu village,
situated near Mount Muria in Central Java.
"The plans must meet tight safety requirements regarding the
safety of employees and surrounding inhabitants, and also
regarding the possible effects of radiation on the natural
environment," said Budiman, a radiologist.
He said the association did not oppose the construction of
nuclear power plants in Indonesia.
"As long as these (safety) requirements are met, we see no
reason to object the plans," Budiman said during a two-day
seminar on nuclear medicine at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital (RSCM).
On Monday the Director General of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), Hans Blix, said his agency was prepared to
help the Indonesian government with its plan to build a nuclear
plant.
President Soeharto himself has said the government is aware
that the use of nuclear energy entails big risks and that people
need to be prepared.
The chief of the National Atomic Energy Agency Djali Ahimsa
said the government planned to hold a public debate on the issue
before committing the country to a nuclear power program.
The government has already commissioned a feasibility study of
the proposed site of Indonesia's first nuclear power plant in
Central Java.
In his address to the seminar the deputy director of RSCM,
Suminto, said the development of nuclear medicine in Indonesia
had been slow.
"We are ready to conduct research and provide services, but
the expense of the equipment and the materials have slowed down
the development of the technology," Suminto said.
RSCM is one of seven state-run hospitals which have acquired
scanning equipment called Single Photon Emission Computerized
Tomography from the French-based Sopha Development company.
The equipment has been obtained through a cooperation accord
with the National Atomic Energy Agency.
The equipment enables the scanning of changes in organ
function, as opposed to mere images of anatomy rendered by
conventional techniques, such as X-rays.
"This leads to more accurate diagnosis and complements other
methods," said Budiman. "We immediately know if a breast cancer
has spread to other parts of the body, rather than searching for
the answer after an X-ray has shown indications of breast
cancer."
The scanning equipment costs approximately Rp 500 million.
What patients are charged depends on what part of the body
they want scanned, ranging from Rp 75,000 for a thyroid gland to
Rp 700,000 for a heart. A kidney scan costs Rp 170,000.
These fees are in addition to some Rp 1 million worth of
injections that a patient must receive before being scanned.
Budiman said that the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital
received 200 requests per month for the scan. (anr)