Burke, MPD;
Annkah, J;
Rosenberg, I;
Royle, G;
Adeyemi, A;
Sackey, T;
Addison, E;
... Ricketts, K; + view all
(2013)
Is the provision of medical equipment enough? Addressing the need for adequate training and support to maximise the effectiveness of introducing modern equipment into the developing world.
Presented at: Second WHO Global Forum on Medical Devices, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Abstract
The World Health Organization predicted that by 2017 the death toll due to cancer in developing countries will be greater than 10 million per year accounting for more than two thirds of the world cancer deaths, exceeding those caused by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. However, the developing world has very limited provision for cancer diagnosis and treatment. While radiotherapy continues to play a major role in the global fight against the disease, in developing countries this life saving procedure remains extremely inadequate. A large proportion of all cancer patients will require radiation treatment during the course of their disease. However, in these regions radiotherapy services are very limited and not available to many cancer patients. In a number of regions this issue is starting to be addressed but resources are limited and very few of the staff have had the opportunity to be trained in modern radiotherapy techniques. Consequently they face a difficult challenge to implement new technologies and get quickly up to speed on clinical protocols, equipment maintenance and operation, at the same time as running a busy cancer service. It would therefore seem that the application of resources and expertise that exists in the UK, to assist the healthcare professionals who are providing cancer treatment in the developing countries, would be of enormous benefit. The sole provision of modern medical equipment is not enough to rectify the considerable difference between the levels of healthcare available. Once the equipment is in place, there have to be enough trained personnel to deliver the required level of care. Therefore, the aim of the paRTner project is to instigate and develop a continuing voluntary partnership infrastructure of high quality training and support for radiotherapy professionals within these developing countries, while providing an essential supply chain of donated modern medical equipment.
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