Medical Equipment Donations Assessment and Advisory Service (MEDAAS)

Many developing countries are increasingly dependent on donor assistance to meet the equipment needs of their health care systems. However, because not all important parameters are taken into consideration, donations sometimes do not achieve their intended objectives, and could even constitute an added burden to the recipient health care system. Thus, there is a need to improve the process of equipment donation, to the mutual benefit of both donors and recipients.

The Medical Equipment Donations Assessment and Advisory Service (MEDAAS) is an online advisory service. Its aim is to facilitate the donation of suitable medical technology to the developing world, and other locations with limited infrastructure and resources, and to reduce the quantity of unsuitable materials arriving  there.

MEDAAS adheres to the WHO Guidelines for Health Care Equipment Donations, and, according to the goals of the HTTTG, emphasizes the importance of sustainability of technology management for the donated equipment, especially with regard to adequate training of the recipients of donations, which in many cases has to be provided by the donor.

 According to the WHO Guidelines, there are four principles which form the core of Good Donation Practice:

1. Health care equipment donations should benefit the recipient to the maximum extent possible;

2. Donations should be given with due respect for the wishes and authority of the recipient, and in conformity with government policies and administrative arrangements of the recipient country.

3. There should be no double standard in quality. If the quality of an item is unacceptable in the donor country, it is also unacceptable as a donation.

4. There should be effective communication between the donor and the recipient, with all donations made according to a plan formulated by both parties.

MEDAAS adds to these principles a level of control, where a group of ‘experts’ -  clinicians, engineers, medical physicists and technicians - with knowledge of the equipment/materials and the infrastructure of the recipient site will jointly assess the information about a possible donation and give a judgment concerning its suitability. Only upon approval by the expert group, which will include the national health technology centers where available, will the donor and recipient work out their donation plan and transfer the equipment.

MEDAAS makes available questionnaires for both potential donors and those in need who wish to place a request for donations. These questionnaires will be sent to the appropriate expert group which will decide on the suitability of the equipment/materials and try to find the best match between donor and recipient.

MEDAAS is being established by Patricia Coyle, Martin Turner, John Keneally and John Loadsman.