„Technological potential of medical devices of the public medical-sanitary institutions is physically and morally outdated, with major deficiencies and determine the quality of medical act ” – it is stated in the Report (http://ombudsman.md/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/RAPORT-MEDICINA-RED.pdf).
The Ombudsman mentions that lots of equipment of the diagnostic sections and surgeries are with the outdated wear degree and with no metrological verification. Thus, some devices of medical institutions have a length of use of about 40 years (international norms being up to 10 years). From the total number of Roentgen devices reported by the institutions in the moment of evaluation (34 devices), 65% have a wear degree of 75 to 100%, fact which indicates a prejudice risk for patients and the staff who deals with these devices.
The equipment in the emergency units (EU) of III rd type and reanimation and intensive therapy (RIT) of institutions with EU of IIIrd type on the national level constitutes on the average 67%, fact which does not correspond to the approved norms. About one third of hospital institutions report the deficiency of some necessary equipment which is mandatory in compliance with the dotation standard of EU.
It is found an insufficient number of equipment necessary in the emergent conditions for life. The majority of institutions (80%) report an insufficient number of monitors for monitoring the life parameters, which does not cover the number of beds in RIT section of the institution. If the number of monitors seems to be sufficient, they have a high level wear degree and do not correspond to the needs of a qualitative medical act. Some institutions report the covering of 50 or even 45%, fact that means that each second bed with a patient with a serious condition who needs monitoring, has no such a system.
In the Report it is also said that lots of medical equipment have no technical passports, fact which makes impossible its monitoring. Due to the fact that there are no sufficient means allocated for ensuring the verification of medical equipment, maintaining and repairing medical devices (both, staff and adequate devices for testing and calibration) there exist the risks for the safety of patients.
There is an acute lack of specialists in the field of biomedical engineering for maintaining, verifying and using medical devices.
There are no criteria on selecting institutions which need to be modernized based on the priorities of the healthcare sector. The quality of medical services achieved after such a situation, as a consequence generate problems related to evolution of diseases and establishment of an optima treatment and in useful time.
In the Report it is also found the fact that the healthcare system has no strategic instrument in the field of medical devices management, technical regulations, minimum equipment standards for medical-sanitary institutions of any level and institutional and functional capacities sufficient for full implementation of Law on medical devices no. 102 of 09.06.2017. In the Report, People’s Advocate makes several recommendations for ameliorating the situation.
The attested situation of medical equipment and devices, the degree they are covered in the medical institutions and the specialists in the field of biomedical engineering demonstrate the fact that People’s Advocate has correctly deducted this segment as being a weak link in the healthcare system, said within the event of presenting the Ombudsman Report, Mihail Cotorobai.
This subject achieved the attention of People’s Advocate after the performed monitoring, and the notices of persons addressed to Ombudsman. The facts mentioned in the Report demonstrate the fact that the concerns of people about the failure to respect the safety in the context of medical act was justified, said Mihail Cotorobai. The lack of the necessary medical devices, their inadequate technical condition, attrition of medical devices can bring serious prejudices to life and health condition of patients and medical staff, emphasized the Ombudsman.
Mihail Cotorobai expressed his hope that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, other competent institutions will consider the findings of Ombudsman for identifying solutions for the established systematic problems, organizational gaps currently existent on the institutional level and related to the management of medical equipment and devices in the hospitals.
At this event have participated representatives of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, National Medical Insurance Company, Center for Applied Metrology and Certification, Center for Centralized Public Procurement in the field of Health, National Agency for Public Health, directors and representatives of important medical-sanitary institutions of the country.
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