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The Role Of Medical Supply In Soundness Of Health System

By Eugenia Dickerson


Most of the items used in the provision of health services are usually not durable. The majority of them gets disposed after use and cannot be shared between patients. In fact, a single patient may not use some of them repetitively. This is the description of materials in category of medical supply. Most of them are prescribed or ordered by the physicians for their own use or for betterment of the health of the patient.

In most of the health journals, medical supply is agreed to consist of health utilities that do not last long by nature. They are either disposed after a single use or expires after a short duration. It is a category of materials that physicians usually order or prescribe for a patient and cannot be shared. Their use cannot be in absence of injury or illness and are the primary health equipment and medicines. They are meant to influence the health of the patient in a positive manner but can also do the exact opposite, for this reason, most of them are not usable in a repetitive manner.

For this reason therefore, proper consideration must always be given in procurement and handling these essential utilities. They play a primary role in the health of both the patients and the health providers. The support staff in health facilities is too must be protected from defective equipment.

While all the effort may be put in place for safer and effective utilities in the medical field, situations have been reported where the utilities are ineffective. These categories of utilities are usually very sensitive in environmental conditions like temperature, moisture, light or even pressure and will easily deteriorate when stored in improper conditions for a long duration. Sometimes the defectiveness of these supplies can be blamed on manufacturers.

Health acquired conditions is a category of any form of ailment, injury or infection acquired by a patient under health facility care. In other words, a patient who comes to seek treatment for something unrelated acquires a new condition in the process of treatment. Falling and breaking a bone or two in the medical facility is an example. Other common infections and conditions that are easily acquired in this manner includes urinary tract infections associated with catheter, blood infections associated with central line, ventilator related pneumonia and even pressure ulcers among many others.

The discussion cannot be complete before considering the other category of the victims of health acquired condition. This category consists of health providers such as nurses, doctors and other professionals in this field. The health support staff such as cleaners cannot be forgotten. The two groups handle all categories of medical supplies and have to use gloves and masks in addition to other devices in attempt to protect themselves from infectious diseases and injuries. In case such devices are defective, these works are at a great risk.

The protective devices that are mostly employed include disinfectants, gloves, protective coats and sometimes masks. The technology has however improved the situation as it is now possible to examine the effectiveness of most of these utilities before they are brought to the actual use. Most utilities and other equipment can always be monitored in terms of performance and the corrective measures taken before the situation deteriorates.

For the effectiveness and safety of medical supply, all the industry players have a responsibility. From the manufacturers, suppliers and other dealers to store keepers and the eventual users, all have a responsibly to play. The regulatory bodies too must keep their rules tight to ensure that the general public remains safe.




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