Continuous collaboration with the WHO for global health
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently published two pivotal documents aimed at enhancing healthcare in low-resource settings: "Medical Device Donations: Considerations for Solicitation and Provision" and the latest edition of the WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies for low-resource settings. Both publications mark significant strides in the global health landscape, emphasizing the importance of frugal and sustainable biomedical engineering.
The document on medical device donations serves as a crucial guide, ensuring that donations align with the specific needs and priorities of recipient settings. It underscores the necessity of focusing on safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, particularly in resource-limited environments. This effort was led by WHO’s Adriana Velazquez Berumen and Leandro Pecchia, with significant contributions from Davide Piaggio, among others. This collaborative work aims to ensure that medical device donations make a meaningful and sustainable impact where they are needed most.
In addition, the new WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies highlights cutting-edge solutions designed for low-resource settings. Once again Davide Piaggio and Leandro Pecchia had the privilege of serving as a reviewer for this compendium via the IFMBE (International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering). This work not only reflects the commitment to advancing global health but also the close collaboration between the ABSPIE Lab and WHO in driving forward innovations that can transform healthcare delivery worldwide.