To investigate the current status of radiation protection in medical institutions in Sichuan Province, providing a reference for the scientific management and resource optimization of radiation diagnosis and treatment protection within the province.

A questionnaire survey was conducted to analyze medical institutions engaged in radiation diagnosis and treatment activities (excluding dental clinics) across 21 cities (prefectures) in Sichuan Province.

By the end of 2023, there were 3 424 medical institutions in Sichuan Province conducting radiation diagnosis and treatment, including 280 tertiary institutions (8.18%), 647 secondary institutions (18.90%), 1 104 primary institutions (32.24%), and 1 393 unclassified institutions (40.68%). A total of 31 763 radiation workers were employed. The province had 9 056 radiation diagnosis and treatment devices, with 3 346 in tertiary institutions (36.95%), 2 057 in secondary institutions (22.71%), 1 510 in primary institutions (16.67%), and 2 143 in unclassified institutions (23.67%). The pass rate for initial inspections of sentinel hospital equipment was 96.00%, while the re-inspection pass rate was 97.41%. Devices over 10 years old accounted for 24.70%, those between 5 to 10 years for 62.10%, and those under 5 years for 13.20%. The annual total of radiation diagnosis and treatment visits reached 49.8 897 million. The province had 48 877 pieces of personal protective equipment for radiation, with an average of more than 13 protective items per device in nuclear medicine and interventional radiology. Compared to 2014, the number of institutions conducting radiation diagnosis and treatment increased by 27%, the number of radiation workers grew by 251%, and the frequency of radiation diagnosis and treatment activities rose by 215%.

The update of radiation equipment is slow, with most devices in use for 5 to 10 years, indicating a need for improved maintenance and monitoring awareness among medical institutions. All levels of medical institutions meet the requirements for the quantity of radiation protection supplies, and there is sufficient provision of protective items in interventional radiology and nuclear medicine projects. Given the increasing frequency of radiation diagnosis and treatment, it is recommended that relevant departments strengthen monitoring of radiation equipment protection to enhance the level of radiation diagnosis and treatment in medical institutions and ensure safe practices in these activities.