Govt urged to reject dumping of medical tools

By Kepher Otieno

The Government should reject the dumping of outdated medical equipment that could be dangerous to patients.

A scientific conference on medical engineering heard that Kenya was among countries targeted for the dumping of such equipment.

Nyanza Provincial Medical Supritendant Juliana Otieno during a conference for the Association of Medical Engineering of Kenya in Kisumu. [PHOTO: JAMES KEYI/STANDARD]

Participants at the three-day conference called for stiffer procurement rules to stop dumping of third-rate machines in local hospitals.

Dangerous

Chairman of Association of Medical Engineers of Kenya Phillip Onyango asked the Government to curb dumping of reconditioned equipment, saying some of it was dangerous to patients and medical staff.

Poor maintenance of facilities due to lack of funds, experts said, had impacted negatively on the delivery of health services in hospitals.Some efficient but expensive machines have been rendered useless for want of routine maintenance and spares.

Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyong’o said hospitals needed safer equipment.

"The radiation emitted by some of these machines has raised concerns over the safety of health patients," said the minister, in a speech read by Nyanza Director of Medical Services Ojwang’ Lusi.

Technology

"We need a technology that is cost- effective and culturally accepted. As a ministry, we intend to promote health technology in close consultation with medical experts," he said.

He acknowledged that, in the past, Kenya had received equipment through donations, direct purchase or grant aid projects, which could not be fully used due to the sophisticated technology involved.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, require an annual of Sh2 billion budgeteach to equip public hospitals with modern equipment and drugs.

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