Clinical engineering in Brazil: current status

It is estimated that 20-40% of all existing healthcare equipment in Brazil is not working because of a lack of service, parts, or supplies, or because it has not been installed. Traditionally, equipment goes completely unattended until a complete failure occurs. Then, it sits idle, paralyzing those services provided by it, until its owner gathers enough money to afford the extravagant repairs provided by manufacturers and their representatives, with little continuing assurance of quality and efficacy. During the last 10 years, a few medical institutions have started to establish their own clinical engineering (CE) teams. Besides providing significant savings, these pioneers are contributing to the improvement of the process of managing the introduction of technology into healthcare. Now, about 10% of all hospitals with more than 150 beds have their own CE departments. Three years ago, the Brazilian Association of Hospital Engineering and Maintenance was created to promote the recognition of CE as a new profession. The main difficulties that inhibit the faster and wider adoption of the self-reliant approach are analyzed and some possible solutions are discussed.