This document provides guidance on selecting medical equipment. It emphasizes considering the need, quality, size, rationality, price, and safety of equipment. Quality features like long life, low maintenance costs, and meeting specifications are important. It's best to have basic equipment before more advanced options and to ensure adequate staff training. Reference checks and product support are also recommended. Indigenous equipment can be acceptable if good quality, though some imported options are preferred. Refurbished equipment can cut costs if from a reputable vendor, with newer models preferred.

1. L S Deshmukh
DM (Neonatology)
Professor of Neonatology
deshmukhls@yahoo.com

2. Introduction
 Optimum care needs help of
technology
 Level of care decides type
 Bed numbers decide the quantity
 Mostly imported
 Many indigenous available

3. Good Medical Equipment
Important features
- works for longer life (5-15 yr)
- Has lower maintenance cost
- Has less break downs
- Has lower down time
- Perform to its specifications
- Most imp. Serves the purpose

4. Choosing Medical Equipment
Consider
 need
 Quality
 Size
 Rationality
 Price
 Safety

5. Choosing Medical Equipment
Need
 most important question
 Suitability for the level
 Use for various conditions
 Caters to specific needs

6. Choosing Medical Equipment
Quality
 Always check
 includes the features
 certification of standardization
 Demo must

7. Choosing Medical Equipment
Size
 Know the work space
 most current equipments compact
 important for equipments like X-ray
machine, radiant warmers etc.

8. Choosing Medical Equipment
Rationality
 Always have basic ones before more
advanced
 Know your type of care
 Have trained staff
 Enough number of staff
 Consider phasic upgradation
Always look at and compare the price

9. Choosing Medical Equipment
specifications
 Before buying, always have specs
 Do some research
- manufacturer websites and
other reliable sources
- meets your requirements

10. Choosing Medical Equipment
Additional Considerations
 Equipment Model - popular model with
many installations
 Product Reliability
- crucial point
- especially with a newly developed product
- history of problems, first customer
experience, reliability record

11. Choosing Medical Equipment
Additional Considerations
 Vendor Track Record – beware
newer / attractive offers
 Product Support: Buying a
discontinued product very risky
 User Reference: It is a nice point
to check with existing user
 proper warranty
 Accessories

12. Choosing Medical Equipment
Safety
 Always look for safety features
 check for electrical & fire safety, battery
back up, alarms
 Approval ratings - 'CE', 'UL', and 'GS' are
electrical safety ratings
 ISO - a manufacturer "has introduced
and applies a Quality Management
System“

13. Choosing Medical Equipment
Safety
 FDA -"have determined that your
device is substantially equivalent to
legally marketed predicate devices”
 The FDA and CE-approved products
are preferred because of their better
quality and performance

15. Selecting The Right Equipment
Some Tips
• Consult various personnel at all levels to learn
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the equipment requirement.
Keep a watch on technological updates.
Approach at least three vendors before selecting
the equipment.
Have an eye on technical specifications.
Note down the requirements of the equipment
like power & area, operating parameters.

16. Selecting The Right Equipment
Some Tips
• Enquire about the after sales support,
training, availability of spares etc.
• Get feedback from existing users on
technical and support areas.
• Check the reputation of the vendor.
• Ask for a certificate from the
manufacturer endorsing the vendor.

17. Selecting The Right Equipment
Some Tips
• Check for accreditations.
• Check the terms and conditions
of the warranty.
• Check for software upgrade, and
accompanying hardware.
• Review the lifespan of the
equipment.
• Negotiate on the price.

18. Purchasing Medical Equipments
Some interesting Facts
 Purchasing at a the lowest price is not a success
 80% products launched by new firms are failures
 25%of models launched by MNCs are failures
 90% of new manufacturers wind up operations
within 5 yrs
 Cost of maintenance is inversely proportional to
the installation base in the region
Source : www.akasmedical.com

19. Purchasing Medical equipments- key
 A good rule to follow is to choose industry
names. They are more expensive, however,
they offer much better value for money.
Everything that is low priced is not bad, and
everything that is high priced need not
necessarily be good.

20. Indigenous Vs Imported equipments
 Many good quality equipments available
 May not have sleek look, look bulky
 Radiant warmers, PT units,
resuscitation bags, O2 hoods, weighing
scales – acceptable quality
 Better to buy indian - Cost saving
 Ventilators , incubators , pulse
oxymetres , ABG – imported better

21. Refurbished Equipment
 the basis 'affordable buying‘
 increasing demand
 cuts down capital investments
 gives an opportunity to purchase latest
technology
 an affordable alternative

22. Refurbished Equipment
 repaired and tested to meet all OEM
specifications
 considerably less expensive
 most often comes with a warranty included
 to replace the old, unreliable equipment
 Allows to offer a wider range of services

23. Refurbished Equipment
 benefits the economy,
 increases patient satisfaction,
 reduces electronic and toxic
waste
 improves overall healthcare
quality throughout the world.

24. Refurbished Equipment- considerations
 Brand Name of the Vendor: check the
background and track the record
 Equipment Model: choose the equipment
based on the year of manufacture
- choose a very popular model
 Quality: make sure it is actually refurbished
 Warranty: comes with guarantees or
limited warranty

25. Refurbished Equipment- considerations
 Cost Savings: depend on the type of
machine, overall condition and
warranty options.
 User Reference: It is a nice point to
check with existing user
 Product Reliability: a crucial point
especially with a newly developed
product or software.

26. Refurbished Equipment- considerations
 Too Old Equipment: frequent
breakdown or outdated technology
 As a thumb rule, always invests into 'not
so old' equipment so that it will give a
reasonable time to re-invest into
equipment.

27. Refurbished Equipment- considerations
 Refurbishing generally involves
- cleaning, disinfection, repair,
- replacement of defective parts,
- reconditioning, reprocessing,
- updating the software
 Avoid buying repainted equipments
instead of refurbished equipments

28. Refurbished Equipment- What to Expect
 very important not to over expect on the
quality or reliability
 possible breakdowns or drop in quality
due to wear and tear or ageing parts
 equipment that are no longer supported
by the manufacturer
 Buying pieces sold 'as-is' may be risky

29. List Equipments For Level II Care
Monitoring Equipments
 Stethoscope with neonatal chest piece
 Non-invasive BP monitors
 Pulse oximeter
 Low reading clinical thermometers
 Room thermometers
 Electronic weighing scale
 Mechanical weighing scale
Equipment for Management of Conditions
 Radiant warmer (with Servo control)
 Phototherapy unit
List modified from the FBNC Operational
Guidelines forImplementation. MoHFW; 2011.

30. List Equipments For Level II Care
Resuscitation equipments
 Self inflating bag
 Foot operated suction apparatus/mucus
trap
 Central O2
 O2 cylinders
 O2 concentrators
Equipments for investigations
 Micro hematocrit
 Dextrometer
 Multistix
 Bilirubinometer
 Microscope

31. List Equipments For Level II Care
General equipments
 Generators
 Refrigerator
 Wall clock with second’s hand
 Autoclaving equipments
 Surgical instruments
 Spot lamps
 Syringe hub cutters
 ECG machine
 Measuring tape (vinyl coated, 1.5 m)
 Infusion stands
 Air conditioners
 Heat convectors or hot-air blowers
(to maintain ambient temperature)

32. Major players In Indian market
include
 GE,
 Phoenix,
 Zeal Medical,
 Sreeyash Electro Medicals
 Fisher & Paykel,
 Nice Neotech
 SS Technomed,
 Meditrend Inc.
.