Public notice for comments on WHO Guideline on internal Contamination Assessment and Management: transuranium radionuclides

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking Public comments on the WHO Guideline on internal Contamination Assessment and Management (CAM): transuranium radionuclides (Americium, Curium, and Plutonium)¹

Background

Preparedness to radiological and nuclear disaster is a critical element of the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR-2005) and has recently increased in priority for European region, especially for the countries neighbouring with Ukraine. WHO Radiation and Health Unit is supporting countries by provision of guidance on preparedness and response to such emergencies. The WHO policy advice on developing national stockpiles for radiation emergencies prescribes a list of key pharmaceutical agents to be included in such stockpiles. 

As a next step for supporting implementation of such policy advice, series of guidelines targeting the elements of the recommended list are being developed. Proposed guideline will cover assessment and management of internal incorporation of specific radionuclides (Americium, Curium, and Plutonium) which are managed by the use of Ca- and Zn-DTPA. 

High-quality, up-to-date systematic reviews will be carried out to inform the development of recommendations, guided by relevant key question(s) which need to be answered for WHO to provide evidence-based iCAM guideline and to warranty that WHO’s guidance is based on the best available, global evidence and developed using the required protocol for development of such recommendations.

Following a call for interest through WHO Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network (REMPAN), 22 experts from various relevant backgrounds were identified to form the Guideline Development Group (GDG). Guideline Development Groups provide technical and/or normative advice and recommendations to WHO. Participation in a GDG convened by WHO does not necessarily mean that the views expressed by the expert concerned are shared by WHO and/or represent the decisions or stated policy of WHO.

The role of guidelines development group

According to the WHO Handbook for development of guidelines, the role of the GDG is to:

• provide input into the scope of the guideline;
• assist the WHO internal steering group (ISG) in developing the key questions in PICO format;
• choose and rank priority outcomes that will guide the evidence, reviews and focus the recommendations;
• examine the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence profiles or other assessments of the quality of the evidence used to inform the recommendations and provide input;
• interpret the evidence, with explicit consideration of the overall balance of benefits and harms;
• formulate recommendations taking into account benefits, harms, values and preferences, feasibility, equity, acceptability, resource requirements and other factors, as appropriate; and
• review and approve the final guideline document before submission to the WHO Guidelines Review Committee.

In order to enhance its management of conflicts of interest as well as strengthen public trust and transparency in connection with WHO meetings and activities involving the provision of technical / normative advice, the names and brief biographies of individuals (“Published Information”) being considered for participation in a WHO-convened Guideline Development Group (GDG) are disclosed for public notice and comment. 

The Published Information is provided by the experts themselves and is the sole responsibility of the individuals concerned. WHO is not responsible for the accuracy, veracity and completeness of the Published Information provided. Furthermore, in no event will WHO be responsible or liable for damages in relation to the use of, and reliance upon, the Published Information.

The comments received by WHO through the public notice and comment process are treated confidentially. Comments brought to the attention of WHO through this process are an integral component of WHO’s conflict of interest assessment process and are carefully reviewed. WHO reserves the right to discuss information received through this process with the relevant expert and disclose to this expert the name and affiliation of the provider of such information. Upon review and assessment of the information received through this process, WHO, in its sole discretion, may take appropriate management action in accordance with its policies.

Please send your comment to rempan@who.int with the subject, “Public comments on the Guideline Development Group for iCAM project” with indication of the name, nature and contact details of the sender.

The deadline for public comments is on 24 December 2024.

¹Working title