UM denies radiation risk claims at UMMC PET-CT facility, says safety standards fully complied

SHAH ALAM – Universiti Malaya (UM) has denied allegations that its Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography (PET-CT) facility at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) exposes staff to harmful radiation risks.

The university said all operations involving radiation are carried out under strict safety protocols, with exposure levels continuously monitored and kept within approved limits.

In a statement, UM said it was aware of concerns raised by staff regarding health issues but stressed that the claims linking the facility to unsafe radiation exposure were unfounded.

“Official records show that staff radiation exposure is far lower and remains within the gazetted dose limits and periodic health screenings are conducted according to the prescribed schedule,” the statement read.

UM said all radiation workers are required to wear personal dosimeters, while monitoring systems are in place to ensure compliance with safety requirements.

The university added that UMMC adheres fully to national regulations, including the Atomic Energy Licensing Act 1984 (Act 304), the Radiation Protection Programme Standard Operating Procedures, and related safety regulations governing radioactive waste management.

It said inspections conducted by the Medical Radiation Regulatory Division (BKRP) of the Health Ministry in October last year found no procedural violations.

“Annual licence inspection visits by BKRP enforcement authorities are also carried out in accordance with the required standards and compliance,” it added.

UM added that UMMC remains open to continuous inspections by relevant authorities to ensure ongoing compliance with all safety standards.

“The management assures that the working environment involving radiation is safe and continuously supervised by accredited regulatory bodies, and urges all parties not to spread baseless speculation that could cause public concern,” it said.

The clarification comes after a media report and social media claims alleging radiation safety breaches at the hospital’s Nuclear Medicine Unit went viral, sparking public concern among staff and patients.

Former UMMC radiographer Nur Fauzia Abdul Razak, 35, had previously alleged that serious breaches of radiation safety procedures had taken place at the facility.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, she claimed that after the installation of PET-CT equipment at the hospital, there had been a rise in cancer cases among staff working in the radiology department.

Fauzia, who is currently undergoing treatment for stage four Hodgkin lymphoma, also alleged that she had been medically retired after being unable to continue working due to her condition.

She said she had undergone more than 20 cycles of chemotherapy since being diagnosed in March 2023.

She further claimed that internal records suggested multiple cases of cancer and thyroid illnesses among staff exposed to radiation over time, raising concerns about compliance with safety protocols.

Fauzia also alleged inconsistencies in official findings and claimed there may have been manipulation of technical reports related to the matter.

She said she had lodged an official report with BKRP and intended to pursue legal action against the hospital.