Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 6, December 1997

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The World Health Organization Network for Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance (REMPAN)

Guennadi Souchkevitch

World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established a system of collaborating centers known as the Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network (REMPAN) to promote radiation emergency medical preparedness, assistance, and advice to countries in cases of overexposure of populations from any source of radiation. This network consists of 13 specialized institutions located in 10 countries. Within the REMPAN there are three separate but linked activities. The first is aimed at strengthening radiation emergency medical preparedness and assistance to treat and monitor acutely exposed individuals. The second activity is directed toward improving public health advice to mitigate long-term effects of exposure to low and protracted doses that might accrue in populations living in the affected territories. This involves giving advice on protecting public health, e.g., iodine prophylaxis, psychosocial risks associated with countermeasures, and public information strategies. In addition, the REMPAN develops activities aimed at improving long-term follow-up studies and preparedness for epidemiologic investigations in territories contaminated by radionuclides from a nuclear accident. The WHO's response in a radiation emergency depends on the type of accident and its time phase. This includes a wide range of actions from studying the situation to providing medical and public health assistance through the network of collaborating centers and relevant institutions within the REMPAN. The process of creating a reliable international system for radiation emergency medical preparedness and assistance has not yet been completed. Deficiencies in this system are outlined in this paper to attract the attention of specialists in the field of radiation protection and potential donors of the WHO program. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 6):1589-1593 (1997)

Key words: radiation, emergency, preparedness, nuclear accident, Chernobyl

This paper is based on a presentation at the International Conference on Radiation and Health held 3-7 November 1996 in Beer Sheva, Israel. Abstracts of these papers were previously published in Public Health Reviews 24(3-4):205-431 (1996). Manuscript received at EHP 11 March 1997; accepted 12 August 1997.

Address correspondence to Dr. G. Souchkevitch, World Health Organization, Avenue Appia, CH-1211, Geneva 27, Switzerland. Telephone: 41 22 791 3762. Fax: 41 22 791 4123. E-mail: souchkevitchg@who.ch

Abbreviations used: AFRO, regional office for Africa; AMRO, regional office for the Americas; EMRO, regional office for the East Mediterranean; EURO, regional office for Europe; GERMON, The WHO/UNEP Global Environmental Radiation Network; HQ, headquarters; IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency; ICRP, International Commission on Radiological Protection; IMO, International Meteorological Organization; IPHECA, International Programme on the Health Effects of the Chernobyl Accident; IRPA, International Radiation Protection Association; REMPAN, Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network; SEARO, regional office for Southeast Asia; UN, United Nations; WHO, World Health Organization; WPRO, regional office for the Western Pacific.

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