Needs Assessment for Medical Devices
Top Contributors - Angeliki Chorti
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Digital Health has brought the issue of health technologies back in the spotlight.
Health technologies apply organised knowledge and skills in a way that promotes solutions to health problems and improve overall quality of life; they may take the form of devices, pharmaceuticals products, or medical procedures and systems. Some use the term health care technology interchangeably. [1] Health technologies have always been essential for the functioning and improvement of health systems and their importance has been highlighted several times in achieving healthcare goals. [1] However, their selection and management, especially for medical devices has always been arbitrary. [2]
Medical devices refer to any type of machine, apparatus, instrument, implant, software, reagent for in vitro use that is intended for a medical purpose [3] e.g. the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a condition or disease; or the detection, measurement, restoration, correction or modification of a structure or body function. Medical devices are used in diverse settings, e.g. by patients at home, clinicians in their clinics, and by healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists. [3] To date, 2 million different kinds of medical devices are available in the world market, with more than 7000 generic devices groups reported. [3]
Needs assessment[edit | edit source]
In 2011, the World Health Organisation produced a document highlighting the necessity and providing generic guidance for needs assessment for medical devices. [2] In this document, the methodological approach, tools and examples were provided for assessment of current situation and future needs of individual facilities as well as wider networks e.g. at a national level. Needs assessment were divided into a general approach process and a specific section.
General approach process[edit | edit source]
Questions[edit | edit source]
- What should be available in terms of health services?
- What is available? (in the facility, regionally or nationwide)
- What are the national or global standards and best practices?
- Comparison with the ideal for a particular demand or situation - Identidying the gap / List of general needs
- What resources (human, equipment, financial) are available? - Prioritised needs / Prioritised List of needs
Specific approach steps[edit | edit source]
The specific approach is a 7-step process of data collection and analysis.
- Baseline information on health service requirements
- Baseline information on health service availability
- Baseline information on medical devices
- Baseline information on human resources
- Baseline information on finances
- Analysis and interpretation
- Prioritisation and appraisal of options
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Needs assessment of medical devices is a complex process that requires information from various sources. If conducted methodically and in-depth, it can lead decision - makers to the necessary information for the selection and prioritisation of appropriate medical devices.
Resources[edit | edit source]
The 2011 WHO document on needs assessment for medical devices can be found in languages other than english here. (french, greek, chinese, and spanish)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 World Health Assembly, 60. Health technologies. World Health Organization. Document WHA60.29 (2007). Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/22609 [accessed 23/8/23]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 WHO. Needs assessment for medical devices. June 2011. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/44562/9789241501385-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y [accessed 23/8/2023]
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 WHO. Medical devices. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/medical-devices#tab=tab_1 [accessed 23/8/23]
