General Guidelines

These lists are for donors and medical missions to use as guidelines for equipment donations.

MedEquip Missions, ministry of Helps International Ministries (www.helpsintl.com), has compiled the advice of a group of mission experienced biomedical technologists.  There are two lists; the equipment we covet 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 problems, etc.  I will check it out with my friends in this ministry.
 

These lists are the thoughts of mortal men and not the Ten Commandments.  They are somewhat “fluid” and will in these next few weeks and months be changing frequently.  Please check often.

The “I Hate to Tell You No, but THIS AIN”T Worth Fixin’ List” is equipment we will generally refuse.  These 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.  (By the way my mature Christian friends would not let me call this list the “Covet List”.  But you ought to see the look on faces of the biomedical technicians when they handle some of this equipment.  I don’t care what they say, it’s coveting!)

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.  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.       Just like Jim Moore and me 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 third world setting.

a.       Single use vials, tubing, masks are expensive to support.

b.      Air/Nitrogen driven surgical tools can’t run where compressed gases are not available.

6.      HAZARDOUS MATERIALS can be a major problem.  Mercury filled sphygmomanometers, 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 as 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), Worldwide Lab Improvements are some of the most overworked people I know.  Let us know if you have a desire to serve in this field.