Medical Equipment Donations to Low Resource Settings
Learn how to plan a medical equipment donation to a low-resource setting that's appropriate, sustainable, and has a real impact.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Medical Equipment Donations to Low Resource Settings
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
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Navigate the pitfalls of planning and organising donations of medical equipment
Unavailability of essential clinical equipment can be a serious problem in low-resource settings.
Whilst medical equipment donations can play a critical role in filling gaps, without careful planning, donations can fail and even become a burden on the receiving institution.
On this course, developed in collaboration with the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET), you‘ll learn best practices in planning a donation of medical equipment to a low-resource setting.
You’ll discover how to decide what to donate to have the greatest long-term impact, how to ensure your donation will be sustainable, and the key pitfalls to consider.
Get practical advice on shipping, costs, and funding
Using case studies of successful donations in different contexts, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss and develop your ideas with other learners.
You’ll also cover organisational issues like deciding on where to buy the equipment, shipping, customs, and costs to budget for.
Does this course feature coronavirus-specific advice for clinicians?
Yes. At the end of the course, you’ll be introduced to funding schemes that you can apply to today and specific reference will be made to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the challenge of sourcing high-quality Personal Protective Equipment during this time.
Syllabus
Week 1
Challenges and considerations for donating medical equipment
Welcome to the course
This course is intended as an introduction to issues to consider when planning a donation of medical equipment to a low resource setting. We will begin with a short quiz, and an interview with an expert in the field.
Deciding what to donate
Deciding what is needed can be complex - in this activity we will discuss the basic information you need to gather, the importance of getting the views of local clinical staff, and a case study of a small equipment donation.
Feasibility and sustainability - is this going to work?
In order to ensure the equipment has a positive and lasting impact, you need to consider what is needed at every stage of the equipment lifecycle - including training of staff, maintenance, and safe disposal.
Summary
Thank you for completing Week 1! This section includes a summary of the key learning points, as well as a list of questions to ask yourself before proceeding with any donation.
Week 2
Sourcing considerations and approaches to donating medical equipment
Introduction to Week 2
Introduction to the key issues and subject areas covered during Week 2, building on the content of week 1.
Sourcing the equipment
This section covers options to consider when sourcing equipment, including new versus refurbished, local versus international, and different types of manufacturer.
Usage and maintenance supplies
What else needs to be included with the donated equipment? Here we will discuss crucial additional items that may be needed, e.g. manuals, and electrical adaptors
Budgeting and hidden costs
Discussion of hidden costs, and expenses to consider, when making a donation
The impact of Covid-19
Discussion of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts medical equipment donations
End and useful resources
Thank you for completing the course! This section includes links to more information, and to organisations providing funding and medical supplies.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify important stakeholders and other resources to consult when planning a donation of medical equipment.
- Describe the different steps in the medical equipment lifecycle, and consider what will be required at each stage to ensure the donation is both feasible and sustainable.
- Assess common risks and pitfalls that may threaten the success of a donation.
- Evaluate the different options available when sourcing equipment to donate, considering quality, the pros and cons and sustainability.
- Describe which costs to include when budgeting for the cost of a donation, and describe an example of how to structure a budget.
- Debate specific issues around the donation of equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the problem of counterfeit PPE.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for healthcare professionals – including medical students – considering donations of medical equipment to low-resource healthcare settings.
This course is part of a partnership between City St George’s, University of London and FutureLearn that is coming to an end. As a result, this course will retire on 24 August 2026.
Please note that the course content, data and materials are no longer being actively updated and may not reflect the most recent developments in this subject area.
We encourage you to enrol on course before the retirement date if you wish to take part.
Who will you learn with?
I am a junior doctor in London, and trained at Cambridge and UCL. I have worked on global health projects in Tanzania, Kenya and Switzerland, and did my medical elective placement in Peru.
I am a Final Year Medical Student at St George’s, University of London. I have a BSc in Medical Sciences with interests in Global Health and Healthcare Leadership.
I am a Senior Lecturer in Medical Ethics and Law at St George's, University of London. I have studied medicine, philosophy and medical education. I have also completed a PhD in Law.
Who developed the course?
City St George's, University of London (formerly St George's)
City St George’s, University of London (formerly St George’s) School of Health and Medical Sciences is a leading provider of education in the fields of healthcare, medicine and psychology.
Learning on FutureLearn
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Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
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- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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