More than a decade ago, while implementing Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects, we discovered that the utilization rate of medical equipment in hospitals across developing countries was often only 20–30%.
This was not only a challenge in the countries we supported, but also a common challenge for international aid organizations providing medical equipment around the world.
So, we asked ourselves: “How can we increase the utilization rate of medical equipment?”
At first, we focused on providing detailed manuals and instructions during equipment installation. However, despite these efforts, there was little improvement in the results.
We then took a new approach: inviting biomedical engineers from developing countries to Korea for 2–3 months of specialized training, while continuing to provide post-installation maintenance and follow-up support for the medical equipment already supplied.
We also supported the trained specialists in returning to their home countries and conducting Training of Trainers (ToT) programs for local personnel.
Through these combined efforts, the utilization rate of medical equipment increased significantly, reaching more than 70%.
This educational content was developed by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) as part of its training materials for biomedical engineers from developing countries. It introduces 22 types of medical equipment and aims to strengthen local capacity for the effective operation and maintenance of medical devices.
https://m.blog.naver.com/karas386/222044544135
