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Saadetud: 15.09.2026 16:15

Adressaat: Karmen Joller - SOM <[email protected]>; Info - SOM

<[email protected]>

Teema: Eesti Radioloogiatehnikute Ühingu pöördumine

Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga.Tundmatu saatja

korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.Lugupeetud Karmen Joller ja

Sotsiaalministeerium

Eesti Radioloogiatehnikute Ühing edastab Teile pöördumise ettepanekuga

muuta tervishoiuteenuste korraldamise seadust selliselt, et

radioloogiatehnikud oleksid TTKS § 3 lõike 1 tähenduses tunnustatud kui

tervishoiutöötajad ning kantud tervishoiutöötajate registrisse.

Radioloogiatehnikute praegune õiguslik staatus ei vasta nende tegelikule

rollile ja vastutusele tervishoiuteenuse osutamisel ning piirab muu

hulgas spetsialistiõppes omandatud pädevuste rakendamist. Pöördumises

käsitleme nii kehtiva regulatsiooni kitsaskohti kui ka vajadust luua

selgem õiguslik alus radioloogiatehnikute pädevuse ja vastutuse

reguleerimiseks.

Pöördumise ettevalmistamise käigus oleme kaasanud teema aruteludesse

tervishoiu- ja radioloogiavaldkonna erialaorganisatsioone ning teisi

valdkonnaga seotud osapooli. Eesti Radioloogiatehnikute Ühingu

pöördumisele on toetust avaldanud:

Eesti Radioloogia Ühing,

Eesti Tervishoiutöötajate Kutseliit,

Eesti Biomeditsiinitehnika ja Meditsiinifüüsika Ühing,

ESTCAN Eesti vähitõrje võrgustik,

Eesti Ultrahelispetsialistide Selts,

Eesti Nukleaarmeditsiini Selts

Tartu Tervishoiu Kõrgkool.

Rahvusvahelisel tasandil on ettepanekule toetust avaldanud Euroopa

Radioloogiatehnikute Ühingute Föderatsioon (EFRS).

Lisame käesolevale kirjale EFRS-i presidendi 2025. aasta mais koostatud

toetuskirja, mis valmis ajal, mil alustasime radioloogiatehnikute

tervishoiutöötaja staatust käsitleva pöördumise ettevalmistamist. EFRS-i

toetus kinnitab, et radioloogiatehnikute professionaalse staatuse ja

selge regulatiivse raamistiku küsimus on kooskõlas radioloogiatehnikute

kutseala Euroopa arengusuundadega.

Palume Sotsiaalministeeriumil pöördumises esitatud ettepanekut sisuliselt

käsitleda ning algatada arutelu radioloogiatehnikute tervishoiutöötaja

staatuse ja sellest tulenevate vajalike regulatiivsete muudatuste üle.

Eesti Radioloogiatehnikute Ühing on valmis osalema edasistes aruteludes

ning regulatiivsete lahenduste väljatöötamises.

Lugupidamisega

Gerli LepikpresidentEesti Radioloogiatehnikute Ühing

“Building the future together”

European Federation of Radiographer Societies

Representing, promoting and developing the profession of radiography.

EFRS, May 2025

To the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs,

and the Estonian Political Institutions,

The European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS) would like to express its strong support for

the formal recognition of radiographers in Estonia as healthcare professionals, aligned with European

frameworks and recommendations. As a federation representing over 110,000 radiographers and more

than 8,500 radiography students through over 50 national societies and professional bodies and over 60

educational institutions across 38 countries, we remain committed to ensuring that the profession is

duly recognised and regulated at all levels.

Over the years, the EFRS has worked closely with European institutions to promote professional

recognition and education standards. In this regard, we would like to highlight the following important

developments that support the urgent need for change in Estonia:

1. ESCO Classification (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations):

Radiographers are officially classified under “Health Professionals”. This is a key recognition at

the EU labour market level and clearly aligns the profession with healthcare.

2. EC RP 175 – Guidelines on Medical Exposures: The European Commission explicitly defines

radiographers as one of the healthcare professions directly involved in the use of ionising

radiation for medical purposes, particularly in ensuring radiation protection and patient safety.

3. EU-REST (European Union Radiation, Education, Staffing & Training) Project (2024): The

recently published final report from this EU-funded project further consolidates the

radiographer’s role as a central actor in medical imaging and radiation-based therapies. It

emphasises the radiographer's responsibility and accountability within the healthcare system.

Moreover, and additionally, this report highlights the necessity of formal higher education and

ongoing training.

4. IAEA Recommendations (2022): The International Atomic Energy Agency recommends the

establishment of registration and licensing frameworks for radiographers in Estonia to ensure

“Building the future together”

European Federation of Radiographer Societies

Representing, promoting and developing the profession of radiography.

compliance with international standards and enhance patient and radiation safety.

Despite this broad EU-level recognition, the current situation in Estonia —where radiographers are not

formally recognised as healthcare professionals—is inconsistent with European practices and

expectations.

Radiographers in Estonia complete a 3.5-year professional higher education programme,

corresponding to EQF Level 6, meeting European educational standards.

Failure to formally recognise radiographers:

• Undermines patient safety and the quality of healthcare services.

• Limits professional mobility across the EU.

• Conflicts with European Directive 2005/36/EC, which mandates the recognition and

regulation of healthcare professions' qualifications.

• Hinders Estonia’s alignment with international standards on radiation protection and

healthcare delivery.

Formal recognition would:

• Ensure safer clinical practices and improved radiation protection.

• Facilitate enhanced access to postgraduate education (EQF 7 & 8).

• Support greater professional mobility across Europe.

• Strengthen compliance with EU regulations and international standards.

• Support the inclusion of Estonia in EU-funded research and innovation initiatives.

• Lead to higher standards of practice, as professionals would have to meet strict educational

and ethical requirements.

• Raise public trust in the health service, ensuring that radiation services are provided by

recognised professionals who comply with European regulations and international

recommendations.

In conclusion, the EFRS strongly urges the Estonian authorities to take immediate action to recognise

radiographers as healthcare professionals and to align education and professional status with

“Building the future together”

European Federation of Radiographer Societies

Representing, promoting and developing the profession of radiography.

established EU and international standards. This includes ensuring full inclusion in national healthcare

legislation and workforce policies.

We remain available to provide further information and participate in constructive discussions

With kind regards,

Dr. Patrizia Cornacchione President of the EFRS

On behalf of the EFRS Executive Board

References:

1. ESCO (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations)

http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/7639a601-6db0-41ed-9fb0-813d9b8beb05

2. European Commission Radiation Protection Report 175 (RP175)

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/9020ff7f-e7c6-4c11-a0f5-50449beeba0b

3. EU-REST Report (European Union Radiation, Education, Staffing & Training)

https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/dc0dd10d-d879-11ef-be2a-

01aa75ed71a1/language-

en?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3kiO4_Hrp9aw2Qxz8hTJcdJIdIhawEcnQNSftqxIvhkUsllVL7-

xrl1Yg_aem_AxBPBv-dVOCZR9A-h9S5vg

4. European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Level 6 Benchmarking Document: Radiographers

https://api.efrs.eu/api/assets/posts/205

5. EFRS Statement on Radiography Education

https://api.efrs.eu/api/assets/posts/201

6. Report of the IAEA Pilot Advisory Mission on Radiation Protection and Safety in Medical Exposure

in Estonia (22-30 March 2022)

https://www.sm.ee/sites/default/files/documents/2022-

09/Pilot%20advisory%20mission%20on%20radiation%20protection%20and%20safety%20in%20medic

al%20exposure%20-%20Estonia%20-%202022.pdf