Guidelines for health care equipment donations

Many developing countries are increasingly dependent on donor assistance to meet the equipment needs of their health care systems. However, because not all important parameters are taken into consideration, donations sometimes do not achieve their intended objectives, and could even constitute an added burden to the recipient health care system. There is therefore a need to improve the process of equipment donation, to the mutual benefit of both donors and recipients. These guidelines address this issue, but are not an international regulation. Instead they are to be used to develop national or institutional guidelines; by governments and organizations dealing with health care equipment donations. And although intended for application everywhere, there is a deliberate emphasis on developing country health systems. (abbreviated author introduction)