Health technology management in a developing country like the Philippines

• Main Author: Gutierrez, Miguel O.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2009
• Subjects: Health services administration > Philippines; Medical care > Philippines; Biomedical engineering > Philippines; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/4027
• Institution: De La Salle University

In order to improve the efficient delivery of healthcare services in the hospitals of a developing country, and to realize the transfer of advanced medical technology from the EU to Asia, an investigation was done to determine: the current state of healthcare technology in the Phils.; and the organization of an existing BME Dept. of a technologically advanced hospital in the EU. The methods used in the advanced safety testing of the handled medical devices by the BME Dept. of the hospital were determined that could serve as a model in the setting-up of a proper BME Dept./Laboratory in Phil. hospitals/academic institutions. Automated safety tests were performed on selected types of medical devices and the test results revealed that they conform with the safety standards of the IEC. To gain more expertise in the in-house repair and preventive maintenance of medical devices, Phil. hospitals should have a proper and advanced BME Dept. composed of BMEs and BMETs who can support and advance patient care. For its part, the government should regulate health services by establishing systems to ensure standards are met and to ensure that the established wide-ranging policies covering all aspects of the utilization, effectiveness, and safety healthcare technology can be efficiently implemented.