News

Delay in the installation of biomedical equipment in hospitals a concern

April 13, 2019 7:57 am

The delay in the purchase and installation of equipment in hospitals continues to be an issue for the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services.

This follows its audit report which revealed that it took 183 days to install a particular biomedical equipment at the Labasa Hospital.

FPBS Acting Head Jeremaia Kalo says teams consisting of specialists have been assigned to deal with the purchase, report and the installation of biomedical equipment.

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“It’s an ongoing challenge in terms of the delay. There are few contributing factors into the process, we are looking at how we get the specification right in terms of the when the products .Once that is done. The contract itself with the SG’s office is another process.”

Kalo says a contributing factor to the issue is that the installation of equipment depends on the availability of all equipment parts as they are purchased in phases.

The FPBS is also working on a five year biomedical equipment replacement plans to fast track the purchase and installation of equipment to enhance health services in hospitals around the country.