Health facilities form a central component of health systems, providing curative and preventative services to improve lives. Available evidence suggests that bioengineers and clinical technologists are the bedrock of every health institution; hence the need to be trained and empowered to remain effective in their roles. In an attempt to support the government’s efforts in revamping the health sector in Ghana, Take Ghana Far (TGF), a non-governmental organization in collaboration with BKANK Group-UK organized a free medical equipment service training for employees in the Akim Oda and Konongo government hospitals. The TGF aims to help revamp the lost confidence in youth to take up more social responsibilities and help groom them (the youth) to become leaders and good citizens. BKANK Group is a UK – African Technology, managed medical equipment services (MMES), including healthcare integration, electronic patient records (EPR), medical systems, healthcare ICT, and health logistics that contribute to quality enhancement and cost efficiency within the healthcare and life Science.
The free training was designed to (1) provide a sound understanding of the philosophy in Safety Testing of Electrical Medical Equipment practice to biomedical engineers and clinical technologists within the healthcare sector in Ghana, (2) enumerate the hazards of electrical medical equipment and identify its causes, (3) categorize electrical medical equipment based on their Classes and Types in accordance to IEC60601-1, (4) distinguish between the different tests performed, (5) differentiate between testing to IEC 60601-1 and IE C62353, (6) perform routine electrical safety testing in accordance to IEC 60601-1 and IEC 62353, (7) establish the competence standards and promote excellence in Biomedical and Clinical Engineering practice, and (8) promote a safe and effective Technology in Patient care.
Current Observation: It was noticed that the clinical engineering department lacks the requisite medical testing devices and equipment toolkits and simulators (logistics) needed to enable them carry out their tasks effectively and efficiently. Secondly, record keeping is an issue as there are no proper procedures in logging work orders and planned preventive maintenance (PPM/PM) conducted on medical devices and equipment. Lastly, there is no database system in place to enable the hospital’s clinical engineering department manage their assets (All medical devices and equipments). Risk assessment and creation of risk management files have become growing features of routine safety testing decisions, with different organizations and departments drawing up individual plans to deal with specific safety hazards.
Conclusion: As they are critical to hospitals, bioengineers and clinical technologists need to be well resourced, particularly logistic-wise. Risk assessment and creation of risk management files have become growing features of routine safety testing decisions, with different organizations and departments drawing up individual plans to deal with specific safety hazards.
With the aforementioned, it is highly recommended that clinical engineering departments in various hospitals across Ghana and Africa as a whole, be resourced with both logistics and human resources to enable them function effectively, efficiently, co-exist and be visible within the hospitals.
Message of Hope: As part of BKANK Groups’ corporate social responsibility, we would continue to engage and assist these departments to be properly structured, function and operate like their counterparts in Europe and across the globe through our collaboration with Take Ghana Far (TGF), an NGO operating in Ghana.
Acknowledgment: We are grateful to BKANK Group and Take Ghana Far (TGF) executive management team and the following health institution;
ODA Government Hospital – AKIM ODA
Konongo Government Hospital – Konongo -Ashanti Region
