E-drug: Needs of district hospitals (cont'd)
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Richard Laing and Berverley Snell have suggested useful resources
to help guide selection of equipment in district hospitals. Richard
Laing writes: "I think this request highlights the need to move the
Essential medicines concept forward to be Essential Medicines and
Equipment".
This is 'unfinished business' that should be addressed, as lives are
put at risk and substantial sums of money are wasted on badly
chosen equipment. Standards are lacking. For example I have heard
that different colour codes are presently used to identify gas bottles
used in surgery. Servicing, supplies of necessary parts and
consumables, and training, cannot be organised without rational
selection. The lack of discipline in this area leads to inappropriate
donations of equipment and supplies that can be as damaging as
inappropriate donations of medicines.
From the work cited in this correspondence it seems that much has
already been done in development of documentation. I would like to
add a resource aimed at primary health care facilities: "Medical
Supplies and Equipment for Primary Health Care, a practical resource
for procurement and management". This was produced quite recently
by Manjit Kaur and Sarah Hall and published by ECHO - sadly now no
longer operating as a low cost supplier of medicines and equipment.
It comprises 176 pages and covers: guiding principles for selecting
supplies and equipment; procurement and management of supplies
and equipment; supplies and equipment for PHC. There are 3
appendices: resources; essential drugs; common instrument features.
It can be ordered from Teaching Aids at Low Cost, and is free with
orders of other items from TALC - a real bargain -
talcuk@btinternet.com
best wishes,
Philippa Saunders
Essential Drugs Project
77 Lee Road
Blackheath
London SE3 9EN
UK
tel/fax +44 (0)20 8318 1419
email edp@gn.apc.org
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