Investigation of remanufacturing technologies for medical equipment in the UK and context in which technology can be exported in the developing world

With the lack of access to medical equipment clear to see throughout the developing world in comparison to the developed world, solutions to bridge the gap are key to reducing the inequality of healthcare between the two. It has been identified that healthcare systems in developed countries have a r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of remanufacturing 2021-10, Vol.11 (3), p.227-242
Main Authors: Oturu, Kingsley, Ijomah, WL, Broeksmit, Alexander, Reig, Daniel Hernandez, Millar, Matthew, Peacock, Craig, Rodger, Jacob
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Business and Management
Computed tomography
Developed countries
Developing countries
Engineering
Environmental Management
Health care
Industrialized nations
Inspection
LDCs
Magnetic resonance imaging
Medical electronics
Medical equipment
Medical imaging
Remanufacturing
Review
Sustainable Development
Waste Management/Waste Technology
X ray imagery
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Summary:With the lack of access to medical equipment clear to see throughout the developing world in comparison to the developed world, solutions to bridge the gap are key to reducing the inequality of healthcare between the two. It has been identified that healthcare systems in developed countries have a rapid turnover of medical imaging equipment (X-ray, MRI, CT scanners, etc.) due to the high rate of technological advancement. There is therefore a stockpile of used medical equipment that could still be of use in developing countries thanks to remanufacturing. The aim of this paper is to investigate the applicability of remanufacturing medical equipment with the intent of supplying said equipment to the countries that need it. This investigation provides a clearer picture of the feasibility of using remanufacture to supply developing countries with the medical imaging devices they require. This is done through studying current remanufacturing processes carried out in developed countries, whether that be directly through OEMs or third parties, and assessing how the methods used could be applied to developing countries. It is identified that remanufacturing practices could benefit developing countries not only by increasing access to diagnostic equipment, but also society as a whole by creating jobs for instance. A key remanufacturing stage that should initially be focused on is inspection as it helps to filter and select the medical devices that are most suited for the remanufacturing process.
ISSN:2210-464X
2210-4690
DOI:10.1007/s13243-021-00102-5