The IAEA cooperates with the WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) among others in the area of radiation medicine and of radiological safety, security and emergencies. Joint activities focus particularly on Latin America and the Caribbean.
PAHO, which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, is the specialized agency for health within the inter-American system. It has been working for more than 110 years with its Member States to improve the health and quality of life of the peoples of the Americas.
IAEA and PAHO/WHO have worked together for more than four decades in radiation safety and related areas of interest to their Member States. A Practical Arrangement signed in October 2012 (which was renewed in 2017) creates the basis for continued cooperation between the IAEA, PAHO and the WHO. The Arrangement covers collaboration in quality and safety in radiation medicine (radiotherapy, diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine); radiological safety, security and emergencies; information sharing; and other joint activities in PAHO/WHO member countries, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Other general areas of cooperation under the agreement include medical physics; cancer control; non-communicable diseases; nutrition; environmental health; health personnel development in Latin America and the Caribbean; and health information and knowledge management.
Under the agreement, the agencies will work together to provide assistance to countries in training and capacity-building, including through the development of joint educational and training courses, participation in expert missions to assess country requests for support, strengthened research efforts, and the exchange and dissemination of information.
PAHO and IAEA also have complementary networks in their Member States that can facilitate joint actions in areas of common interest to achieve the promotion of health and prosperity in the Region of the Americas.