Lack of Basic X-ray and Medical Personnel
Nearly 4 billion people throughout the developing world have little or no access to basic diagnostic medical imaging. These procedures, which include chest and extremity X-rays, are a key component of primary health care delivery. In addition to X-ray capabilities hospitals and clinics in the developing world need medical specialists to read the diagnostic images and to provide consultation for diagnosis. But many areas, even entire countries, lack specialists such as radiologists.
The Importance of X-ray
It is estimated that 60% of medical diagnoses require X-ray analysis. Imaging services are needed for the diagnosis and management of many conditions. Lack of this capability prevents a physician’s ability to properly diagnose medical conditions resulting in prolonged illness and disability for patients. This negatively impacts the health status of communities and overall economic growth.
Need for TB Screening Tools
Tuberculosis is often called the “forgotten disease” because many believed that it had been contained or even eliminated decades ago. However, this highly infectious respiratory disease has experienced a global resurgence fueled by a lack of awareness and reduced vigilance, an increase in HIV/AIDS infections, and insufficient public health investments in the tools needed to diagnose and treat it. Each year, TB sickens more than 9 million people and causes nearly 2 million deaths. It is prevalent in every region of the world, easily crossing borders as populations become increasingly more mobile. Screening populations for the presence of TB using tools such as chest X-ray is critical to halting the spread of the disease.
How We Address These Issues
For decades there have been attempts made to address these issues but little progress has been made. This severe shortage is the result of multiple factors including a lack of funding and a lack of coordination of the efforts of key stakeholders. We take into consideration the many hurdles facing these areas in order to provide reliable, sustainable digital X-ray and telemedicine systems to support the delivery of primary health care in developing nations around the world.
We work with primary health care providers, helping them to source, fund, install and sustain these medical imaging systems. This is made possible by partnering with imaging industry vendors, non-governmental and philanthropic organizations and local universities. Our collaborative model ensures that these first referral hospitals get the training and support they need to ensure that the imaging systems remain operational.