Improving practices in medical equipment support projects

Numerous articles indicate that a great deal of medical equipment in healthcare facilities in developing countries no longer functions. A considerable percentage of it may have been provided; either donated, or on very favourable conditions, by medical equipment support projects in developed countries. The main causes of this situation are well known. In a bid to remedy it, HUMATEM, a French non-profit organisation, has specialised in advising organisations running medical equipment support projects. Following the recommendations of the WHO regarding donations of medical equipment [1], our action is oriented along various axes: encouraging stakeholders to take responsibility for improving the quality of the projects, improving the technical quality of the devices donated and finally, promoting biomedical professions. In order to do so, we have developed, and made available to all those concerned, be they requestors or donors of equipment, hospitals or funding partners, documents, methodologies and services with the main aim of being practical and responding to all the various problems that may arise.