A Method to Identify New Needs for Medical Equipment

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology Assessment
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Identifying medical equipment needs is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
• High-incidence diseases require specific diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
• The World Health Organization's Availability Matrix offers a framework for mapping medical devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel method for identifying unmet medical equipment needs.
• To apply this method to congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities.
• To inform strategic procurement of medical equipment for pediatric care.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the World Health Organization's Availability Matrix.
• Integrated epidemiological data, healthcare service demand, and existing equipment inventory.
• Focused on the four most prevalent congenital conditions at a national pediatric institute (2014-2018).

Main Results:

• The method identified thirteen new medical equipment requirements.
• Three diagnostic and ten rehabilitation equipment needs were specified.
• The findings highlight specific gaps in equipment for congenital conditions.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method effectively identifies critical medical equipment needs.
• Procurement should align with high-incidence diseases for optimal patient care.
• This approach ensures hospitals acquire appropriate health technology for maximum clinical impact.