by Denali Dahl and Rosa Castro
In his engaging presentation last Tuesday, Dr. Robert Malkin introduced us to a shocking reality: most of the medical equipment donated to the developing world ends up being a burden. Donors might have good or bad intentions but the reality is that most donations are ineffective, troublesome, and often cause more harm than good.
In his engaging presentation last Tuesday, Dr. Robert Malkin introduced us to a shocking reality: most of the medical equipment donated to the developing world ends up being a burden. Donors might have good or bad intentions but the reality is that most donations are ineffective, troublesome, and often cause more harm than good.
The
accumulation of ineffective technology in low and middle income countries is
due to the lack of spare parts and the technical knowledge, which lead to an
inability to repair or maintain the donated medical equipment. Without the
capacity to fix technical equipment, the devices intended to improve access to
quality medical care end up “parked” in a hospital, taking away space rather
than helping anybody.
Donors
are more excited to donate different pieces of equipment rather than fundraising
to provide spare parts or money to maintain the medical equipment they have
dumped in another country. This fundamental flaw in the system must be
addressed for donations to become sustainable solutions that have provide
long-term improvement.
3D printing technology has the
potential to create new materials and parts on large and small scales with a
wide variety of applications, a concept that has revolutionized the engineering
world. The question becomes, can 3D printing extend beyond the laboratories and
be applied to improve the donated medical equipment problem?
3D
printing can generate spare parts and consumables without having access to
large-scale manufacturing facilities. With thousands of pre-programmed designs
at hand, using a 3D printer is becoming more user friendly everyday. All the
user has to do is load their material--usually a plastic polymer--select design
specifications, and watch while their creation comes to life.
Technology
like 3D printers has the potential to provide low and middle income communities
with ways to build products for themselves, especially small parts to repair
the larger medical equipment constantly being donated. In Haiti, 3D printerswere recently used to help Haitians build their own umbilical cord clamps. The ability to 3D print the necessary
items empowers hospitals and clinics by giving them a tool to become more
independent, instead of having to rely on donors or the government to provide
everything.
Image credit: Makezine.com
The
main drawback is, what happens when the 3D printers break and need their own
spare parts? Would donating 3D printers along with medical equipment be helpful
or harmful? Would the 3D printers be another sophisticated device “littering”
the developing world?
Source:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/medical-equipment-donated-developing-nations-junk-heap/
3D printers have the potential to alleviate the disparity between having and using medical equipment, but to be effective technology in any form must be donated in a sustainable manner to ensure long-term benefits to the selected communities.
