A new group involving the NHS, The Scottish Government and Kids Operating Room (KidsOR) is bidding to improve the global healthcare donation system, which sees 70% of equipment never put to its intended use.
A resource has been created by the team at the Scottish Global Health Co-ordination Unit, to provide guidance for those donating medical equipment, with input from members of Scotland’s International Development Alliance.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that up to 70% of donated equipment is non-operational. This suggests that globally we are still not getting equipment donations right and this is leaving a deficit and a burden on the receiving country as well as wasting resources in terms of time, effort and potentially costs in donor countries.
In anticipation of how Scotland’s many aid organisations and community groups with overseas connections might respond to a post-pandemic world, the Chief Medical Officer commissioned a review of the standards required for medical equipment donations to low- and middle-income countries.
The review took account of recent work to review the Scottish Government approach to International Development.
Professor Sir Gregor Smith, Chief Medical Officer, said:
“Scotland plays an important role in working with global development, whether at a national, university, charity or community group level. In particular, our healthcare expertise helps supporting care for patients around the world and I have asked a small working group to review guidelines for donating medical equipment to low-resource countries to make sure we are at the forefront of best practice.”
The 10 Step Guide will make sure we are at the forefront of best practice where the donation of equipment can be done safely and effectively. It will also encourage potential donors to consider alternative forms of support where this is more appropriate.”
You can read the full report here, or access the resource via the Alliance website here.