The developing countries´ need for appropriate medical technology

Health care delivery in the developing countries is dependent on imported medical technology because these countries do not have the resources and trained personnel to design and manufacture high quality medical devices to meet their own needs. Thus, the industrialized nations have the responsibility to supply instrumentation appropriate for applications in the developing world. Medical equipment produced in the western world often have many functions at high cost. These improvements do not necessarily mean better clinical utility in the developing world. In fact many extra functions add weight, increase complexity and cost and can adversely affect the reliability and efficiency. Unfortunately medical devices designed for uses in technically advanced countries are often not well suited to applications in the developing countries. Large proportion of equipment is underutilized and poorly maintained.