National Biomedical Unit establishment being explored by RHS

The Regional Health Services (RHS) Department of the Ministry of Public Health is carefully considering the establishment of a National Bio-medical Unit within the ministry. The formation of this unit would allow for the timely repair of all biomedical equipment at regional health facilities throughout the country. This is according to Director of RHS, Dr. Kay Shako.

Dr. Shako said the issue is likely to see some progress at the upcoming Regional Health Officers (RHO) Conference in November, when RHOs, ministry officials, PAHO/WHO officials and other key stakeholders will all be engaged in panel discussions on the way forward.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), the Minister of Public Health was already briefed and included in the deliberation exercise.
At previous RHO meetings, officers and other staff had complained of biomedical equipment being in need of repairs and servicing, their condition hindering the processing of having specified healthcare services delivered.
Dr. Shako noted that electronic biomedical equipment such an Anesthesia machines, Blood Chemistry Analyzers and Electrocardiography (ECG) machines, among others, are essential support services requisite to the necessary level of health care being offered at secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare.
Without the presence of these services, proper healthcare delivery is delayed, with deleterious effects on patients. The establishment of a biomedical unit at the ministry means that a corps of technicians and specialists will be prepared and geared towards correcting faults to machines and equipment within the shortest possible time.