Rodrigo Acosta, Zermeno Biomedical Specialist, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), at the 5th Saving Lives Sustainably Global Forum 2022 on 23 November 2022.

1. Rodrigo, Acosta Zermeño
Reducing Wasted Medical Equipment Donated by
iNGO’s

2. Waste, what are we talking about?
Infectious Medical Waste vs Medical Equipment Waste vs Wasted Medical Equipment

3. Findings by leading health iNGO’s have shown that 40% - 70% of medical equipment donated to
LMIC are either never installed or inoperable few years after the donation!

4. Lead reasons for wasted medical equipment in ICRC:

5. Wasted Medical Equipment = Plastic waste + e-waste + $ waste + …
Taking actions! How do we reduce wasted medical equipment?
Planning and Needs Assessment
Clinical need AND technical need?
Available Clinical and Technical resources?
Infrastructure requirements?
Budgeting and Financing
Total cost of ownership and time frame!
Technology Selection and Logistics
Consumables and accessories available?
 Long lead times, what happens in-between?
Installing and Commissioning
 Was the equipment installed?
 Was the end-users trained? Biomeds?
 All accessories, consumables and spare parts available? Image from THET. See: https://www.thet.org/resources/managing-medical-equipment-life-cycle/

6. Wasted Medical Equipment = Plastic waste + e-waste + $ waste + …
Taking actions! How do we reduce wasted medical equipment?
Training and Skills Development
 Are staff really trained? Are new staff trained?
Are training follow-ups done?
Operation and Safety
 Replenishing consumables, accessories and spare parts
 Daily maintenance/care
Maintenance and Repair
 Preventive maintenance? Corrective maintenance?
Repair vs Replace
Decommissioning and Disposal
 How to dispose?
Image from THET. See: https://www.thet.org/resources/managing-medical-equipment-life-cycle/

7. Improving our Supply Chain and Logistics
Taking actions! How do we reduce wasted medical equipment?
Try Local Purchase! (don’t be afraid!)
 Assessment of Local Suppliers (authorised!)
 Asses local biomed network! (proven expertise!)
Contract
 Include warranty, training and maintenance
 Include initial stock of spare parts and consumables
Follow up
 With hospital
 With local suppliers

8. THANK
YOU
Rodrigo Acosta Zermeno
Reg. Medical Equipment Specialist
racostazermeno@icrc.org