Medical equipment sustainability-a technical assistance approach

A 6 year equipment technical assistant programme was designed to improve equipment availability and maintenance skills in The Salvation Army hospitals in developing countries. Workshops on hospital equipment maintenance and management have been held in health care facilities in an attempt to improve local skills in medical equipment maintenance and facility planning relating to hospital assets. The application of planned maintenance techniques by maintenance staff who have attended training sessions has resulted in much of the old equipment being revitalized to provide just that little more service life. The results of this programme have been very encouraging and have shown particular effect in hospitals where techniques and skills learnt at workshops and practical demonstration have been implemented. Examples show that equipment maintenance can produce worthy results if maintenance and clinical staff can work together to accomplish regular and basic equipment care and management.