Rodrigo Acosta, Zermeno Biomedical Specialist, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), at the 5th Saving Lives Sustainably Global Forum 2022 on 23 November 2022.
2. Waste, what are we talking about?
Infectious Medical Waste vs Medical Equipment Waste vs Wasted Medical Equipment
3. Findings by leading health iNGO’s have shown that 40% - 70% of medical equipment donated to
LMIC are either never installed or inoperable few years after the donation!
5. Wasted Medical Equipment = Plastic waste + e-waste + $ waste + …
Taking actions! How do we reduce wasted medical equipment?
Planning and Needs Assessment
Clinical need AND technical need?
Available Clinical and Technical resources?
Infrastructure requirements?
Budgeting and Financing
Total cost of ownership and time frame!
Technology Selection and Logistics
Consumables and accessories available?
Long lead times, what happens in-between?
Installing and Commissioning
Was the equipment installed?
Was the end-users trained? Biomeds?
All accessories, consumables and spare parts available? Image from THET. See: https://www.thet.org/resources/managing-medical-equipment-life-cycle/
6. Wasted Medical Equipment = Plastic waste + e-waste + $ waste + …
Taking actions! How do we reduce wasted medical equipment?
Training and Skills Development
Are staff really trained? Are new staff trained?
Are training follow-ups done?
Operation and Safety
Replenishing consumables, accessories and spare parts
Daily maintenance/care
Maintenance and Repair
Preventive maintenance? Corrective maintenance?
Repair vs Replace
Decommissioning and Disposal
How to dispose?
Image from THET. See: https://www.thet.org/resources/managing-medical-equipment-life-cycle/
7. Improving our Supply Chain and Logistics
Taking actions! How do we reduce wasted medical equipment?
Try Local Purchase! (don’t be afraid!)
Assessment of Local Suppliers (authorised!)
Asses local biomed network! (proven expertise!)
Contract
Include warranty, training and maintenance
Include initial stock of spare parts and consumables
Follow up
With hospital
With local suppliers