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Health technologies donated to low- and middle-income countries not always useful
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Medical equipment donated by wealthy countries to low- and middle-income countries may not always be appropriate for the local conditions, according to a recent report.
The report, published in The Lancet and created by members of Imperial College London, highlights the fact that most health technology focuses on the needs of the wealthy and that more frugal technology designed for the poorest people is needed.
“Most health technology is produced by companies from high-income countries for high-income markets,” Peter Howitt, MA, of Imperial College London, said in a press release. “Health technology is therefore designed for an environment with high spending on health, a reliable energy supply and large numbers of trained health care professionals.”
According to the report, approximately 40% of health care equipment in developing countries is out of service, compared with less than 1% in high-income countries. The authors cite that inappropriate equipment provided by wealthy countries is a significant factor in the high failure rate.
The first recommendation is for the development of more frugal technologies, which are defined as cost-effective technologies that are developed specifically for particular local conditions. One example is the Uniject injection system developed by PATH, which used once-only needles for injectable contraception.
The authors also recommend that technologies should be combined with other innovations to be applied to the broader context of low-income and middle-income countries. The third recommendation is a multidisciplinary approach to the development of new technologies. Fourth, technology already available in resource-poor countries should serve as a platform for health interventions. The final recommendation is that development in this area be assessed after 2015.
“Technology is making a substantial contribution to global health, yet it could do so much more,” Lord Ara Darzi, MD, of Imperial College London, said in a press release. “The benefits of health technology should be available to all, not only those in high-income countries. Access to life-saving health technology should not be restricted to those with the ability to pay. Tackling current market failures is, therefore, a task for all those with an interest in improvement of global health.”
References:
Howitt P. Lancet. 2012;doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61127-1
Disclosures:
The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.