Global health interdependence: a grass-roots approach

Article Abstract:

Industrialized countries have offered health care aide and donated medical equipment and supplies to developing countries for many years. With the fall of the Communist block in eastern Europe and other political crises in Asia, Western countries have begun to offer medical aide to developed countries that are in distress. A research study examined a program at the Yale-New Haven Hospital to collect unused surgical supplies for distribution to countries in need. This program also focused on the re-sterilization of medical supplies. There is a large amount of waste at US hospitals because most medical supplies are designated 'single use only'. It is sometimes difficult to distribute medical supplies collected for donation to the right recipient. Another question is whether it is more feasible to supply high-tech medical equipment and supplies on an irregular basis to countries in need than not at all. Medical assistance programs may also hinder the development of independence by countries that accept this type of aide.

Editorial, Supply and demand

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Recovery, resterilization, and donation of unused surgical supplies

Article Abstract:

The Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) in Connecticut established a medical supply recovery and donation program called Recovered Medical Equipment for the Developing World (REMEDY) in Jun 1991. The objective of this program is to recover unused medical supplies and donate them to developing countries that have a medical supply shortage. Unused medical supplies are collected after every surgical procedure at the YNHH. Supplies that are reusable are decontaminated and sterilized. The items are cataloged by volunteers and shipped to different charitable organizations for distribution. The operating room staff at the YNHH is enthusiastic about the program and does not think that it interferes with patient care. The program has reduced the amount of unnecessary waste at the YNHH, and it has reduced the costs associated with waste disposal.

Medical equipment sterilization

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A quantitative, qualitative, and critical assessment of surgical waste: surgeons venture through the trash can

Article Abstract:

The amount of waste generated by surgical procedures could be reduced as much as 90% by using reusable drapes, wraps and gowns, and recycling paper and plastic material. The amount of trash generated by 27 surgical procedures performed between March and April, 1991 was collected and separated into disposable linens, paper and miscellaneous waste. The trash was bagged and weighed, and its volume was measured. A total of 610.5 pounds of trash was generated - 237 pounds of linen, 41.5 pounds of paper and 323 pounds of miscellaneous waste, which included all plastic items. Disposable linens and paper accounted for 69% of the waste. Plastics accounted for 23% of the total volume of trash generated from four procedures, and when the disposable linens, paper and plastic were removed, the volume of trash was reduced by 93%.

Measurement, Refuse and refuse disposal, Waste disposal

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