[Departmental metrological service of the USSR Ministry of Public Health in the field of measurement of ionizing radiation].

Metrological service in the USSR was the first of its kind in the world. The Central Research Roentgenoradiology Institute is a base of the USSR Ministry of Health in the field of ionizing radiation measurements; it was set up on its initiative in 1961. Seven years later WHO experts in Geneva raised a question of the organization of a similar world service. At present the USSR metrological service comprises 2 bases (at the Central Research Roentgenoradiology Institute and at the Moscow Research Roentgenoradiology Institute) and 11 territorial testing dosimetric laboratories in the majority of the USSR regions. They are responsible for testing gamma-therapeutic apparatus. Owing to this service the quality of radiation therapy in the USSR was improved.