EQUIP
What is EQUIP?
EQUIP is an international effort led by students to address medical surplus. Formed on the principles of 3 E’s: Environmental benefit, global health Equity and cost-Effectiveness, EQUIP is a program where open, unused medical and surgical supplies from the U.S. are donated to clinical facilities in developing countries. Led by AMSA, EQUIP is a transnational project for IFMSA’s Standing Committee on Public Health.
EQUIP’s Goal, Method & Outcomes
Why is EQUIP important?
Everyday, some clinic in a developing country is unable to deliver proper medical care secondary to lack of medical instruments or equipment. Meanwhile, hospitals in the U.S. produce significant volumes of medical supply “waste” through
- The removal of materials (that are never used) from their sterile packages
- Inventory surplus
These perfectly re-usable materials can be collected locally and redistributed globally. Furthermore, running a medical recovery program will actually save hospitals money from reduced regulated waste disposal.
Why partner with REMEDY?
REMEDY (Recovered Medical Equipment for the Developing World) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with years of experience actively promoting the recovery of unused medical supplies for the purpose of global aid, waste reduction and cost-effectiveness. REMEDY has developed a sustainable model of equipment recovery that can be applied to the normal operating room procedures of any hospital.
REMEDY operates through the distribution of a teaching packet. To request a teaching packet, email ifmsaNPO@gmail.com.
What can YOU do?
As physicians in training, you have direct contact with medical equipment, supplies and the people that use and discard them. Get involved with EQUIP!
- Find out if your local hospital already has a recovery program.
- If there IS a program,
- Update our national database. Email ifmsaNPO@gmail.com about your program.
- Volunteer to sort materials at your local site.
- Conduct research through a utilization study. For an example, click here. Email ifmsaNPO@gmail.com if interested.
- If there is NOT a program,
- Update our national database. Email ifmsaNPO@gmail.com to let us know that your site does not currently have a program.
- Request a teaching packet from ifmsaNPO@gmail.com to start your own program. If it’s too hard to start a full program, consider a REMEDY lite program that focuses on one or a few easy supplies like gloves and gowns.
- Find out who is in charge of surplus inventory at your local hospital.
- Encourage them to join Med-Eq (the “eBay” of charitable surplus medical supplies) so that a receiving charity can make use of those materials. For more information on Med-Eq, click here.
- Take supplies for clinics abroad if you or your friends are traveling through an International Exchange or another program.
- Ask the clinic what supplies they need. Acquire supplies from your hospital, REMEDY, Med-Eq or a similar NGO. Inquire about customs requirements and shipping costs. If you have questions, email REMEDY@yale.edu.
- Fund-raise at your school to support the services that REMEDY offers.
- Be waste conscious and spread the word at your school and in your community.
- You have the opportunity to explain to your superiors the importance of recycling. Let them know that recovery programs work. Recruit people to help you advocate for and implement change.
- Write to your local press about medical surplus and what can be done.
EQUIP Related Press