General Guidelines
These lists are for donors and medical missions to use as guidelines for equipment donations
MedEquip Missions, a ministry of Helps International Ministries has compiled the advice of a group of mission experienced biomedical technologists. There are two lists; the equipment we desire and the equipment we will generally refuse. Each list contains the items on which these professionals agree. If there is significant disagreement, I have excluded those items from either list. Those readers who have experience with medical equipment will note that there are many items not on either list. Obviously, some conclusions can be drawn by reading both and applying what you see to the equipment you are donating. If there are any questions, please contact MedEquip Missions and give name, model, age, any known problem, etc. I will check it out with my friends in this ministry.
These lists are the thoughts of men . They are somewhat "fluid" and will in these next few weeks and months be changing frequently. Please check often. Some items are inappropriate for the medical mission field for a variety of reasons: history of high failure rate; no longer making spare parts; unsupportable or too expensive to support in the field, etc.
The ministry that receives an inappropriate donation will be responsible for expense of disposal. If the device contains heavy metals or radiation products it may cost a bundle to properly discard. Missionaries do not want to say “no” to the donor. Partner with us to protect our financial resources so we do not pay extra at the land fill or to a Hazardous Material Team. The “Desired Equipment List” is a list of items we can readily find a home for on the medical mission field.
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT for Mission Hospitals or Clinics is a list of suggested general equipment for a variety of hospital or field clinics set-ups. This list is borrowed from Technical Exchange for Christian Healthcare web site and is available upon request. This organization is worthy of your support. If you represent an evangelical gospel sharing medical ministry, I highly recommend that you check this group out and consider joining with us. If you are a ministry seeking our services, please feel free to contact us. We will help as the LORD allows. If you are not a TECH member, we ask that you send us a statement of faith, a mission statement, share with us your testimony about your relationship with Christ and a history of your mission. We support distinctly active Christ-sharing ministries.
Some General Thoughts:
1. Please DO NOT be insulted if we refuse your donation.
a. We deeply appreciate the offer.
b. We deeply desire that you continue to think of Christian medical missions when equipment
becomes available.
2. Equipment needs in Christian medical missions are HUGE. We will be struggling to fill that need
when the LORD returns.
3. Just because the need is HUGE does not mean that all equipment is valuable.
a. It may be so old spare parts are no longer made.
b. It may cost the ministries to properly dispose of your donation.
c. See the “I Hate to Tell You No… " list.
4. Just because it is old does not mean it has no value.
a. Some older machines are extremely well constructed.
b. Some older machines work well in areas where quality of electrical service is poor.
c. On the other hand, some older equipment is unsupportable. Companies go out of business or
change directions and no longer make spare parts or support their equipment. Do not take
equipment with the following manufacturers names, E for M, Gould, and Mennen.
5. Just because it is new and works does not mean it is appropriate in a third-world setting.
a. Single use vials, tubing and masks are expensive to support.
b. Air/Nitrogen driven surgical tools cannot run where compressed gases are not available.
6. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS can be a major problem. Mercury filled sphygmomanometers and
asbestos seals on old infant incubators can cost the receiving ministry significant financial
resources to deal with properly. Be careful receiving boxes of unidentified materials. More than
one ministry has found radioactive material buried in a box. Assess the situation and if this is a
chronic problem with that donor, consider seriously divorcing yourself from that relationship.
7. Actively try to develop relationships with certified biomed techs in your local hospital systems. This
is one of the most seriously lacking skills in Christian medical ministries in third-world countries.
The techs and others that provide technical assistance in their specialties at International Aid, World
Medical Missions, Chosen (autoclaves, surgical tables and lights), and Worldwide Lab Improve-
ments are some of the most overworked people I know. Let us know if you have a desire to serve
in this field.
