UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

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

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. Green open access

[thumbnail of Sat_pm_PRI_1_BURKE.pdf] Text
Sat_pm_PRI_1_BURKE.pdf
Available under License : See the attached licence file.

Download (149kB)

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.

Type: Conference item (Presentation)
Title: 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
Event: Second WHO Global Forum on Medical Devices
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Dates: 22 - 24 November 2013
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Publisher version: http://www.who.int/medical_devices/global_forum/2n...
Language: English
Additional information: Copyright © 2013 World Health Organisation.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Surgery and Interventional Sci > Department of Targeted Intervention
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Med Phys and Biomedical Eng
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1485851
Downloads since deposit
55Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item