MbouleA - Empowering the HTM profession in Africa

The main topic of this paper revolves around "Empowering the HTM profession: An Agenda for Africa." The document delves into the historical background, key factors, initiatives, and objectives pertaining to Health Technology Management (HTM) in the African context. It highlights the significance of managing devices, resources, procedures, and systems aimed at solving health problems and improving the quality of life, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Through a comprehensive exploration of the HTM landscape in Africa, the paper discusses key 5M factors for effective operations in the field, providing three examples of successful operations. It also addresses the concerns and initiatives of WHO/AFRO regarding the development and integration of health technology managers into healthcare management teams. Additionally, the document sheds light on the efforts made by African HT professionals since the early 1990s, such as creating national professional associations, providing training for HTM professionals, fostering leadership development, and promoting information sharing and networking.

Moreover, the paper outlines various initiatives undertaken by the African Federation of Biomedical Engineering (AFBME) to strengthen the HTM profession in the region. It also narrates the story of AFRO HT Experts' collaboration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and collaborative frameworks at the country level. The document further presents key SWOT factors for a performant strategy in HTM, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that need to be considered for the successful implementation of HTM initiatives in Africa.

In defining the HTM Agenda for Africa (HAA), the paper sets out specific objectives aimed at improving BME/HTM professionals in Africa, including reviving dormant associations, stimulating the creation of national associations, and fostering collaboration among professionals from academia, public sector, and private sector. It also outlines the conditions for success, emphasizing the importance of policymakers, health professionals, partners in health development, and professional associations in driving the agenda forward. Overall, the document provides a comprehensive roadmap for advancing the HTM profession in Africa towards a healthier and more sustainable future.

1. Empowering the HTM profession: An Agenda for Africa Clinical & Biomedical Engineering Conference Monday, 25 October 2021 MBOULE Andre Engineer Manager, P.Eng., MBA, PhDc Chief International Consultant

2. SUMMARY Historical background What is HTM? What about WHO/AFRO concern? What African HT Professionals? Initiatives for the Africa Federation on BME The story about the AFRO HT Experts on COVID-19 Key SWOT factors Key SWOT factors for a performant strategy Key 5M Factors Key 5M factors for effective operations Three (03) examples of effective operations HTM Agenda for Africa (HAA) HAA Objectives HAA Conditions for Success Empowering the HTM profession: An Agenda for Africa Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

3. What is HTM? = the management of any devices , resources , procedures , and systems that are developed to solve a health problem and improve the quality of life (adapted from WHO Medical Device Technical series, 2011)   Historical background Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

4. What about WHO/AFRO concern?   Ensure the development of health technology managers (1994) Integrate health technology managers into health management teams (1999)   Historical background Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

5. What about African HT professionals? Since the early 1990s, HT professionals are consistent with the following: creation of national professional associations, training of HTM professionals, leadership development, information sharing and networking. Historical background Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

6. AFRICA Initiatives for the African Federation of BME AFTH African Federation for Technology in Health (cf. Mladen Poluta ) THET Seminar Johannesburg 2015 Strengthening Professional Associations for Biomedical Engineering Professionals African Federation of BME 2016 AFROBIOMEDIC – Proposal from Cameroun Other Initiatives IFMBE WGAA Proposals Appointment of Regional Ambassadors – Identification of national Focal Persons – Constitution of a Task Force – Regional meetings – Pan-African meeting – Supports from AU, WHO and IFMBE HTM Leaders In Africa 2008 Discussions – Mailing list – Blog – Whatsapp – Objectives – 90 members, 30 pays HTM Leaders In Africa - Initiatives Identification of HT professionals in the WHO/AFRO countries (cf. Report WHO/HQ 2009) - SISDAK 2010 - Stimulation for the creation of national associations – AFRO Tech Expert COVID-19 (35 membres , 19 pays) 1 2 3 7 6 5 4 Historical background Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

7. Main PURPOSE: The CALL (March 2020) Historical background The story about the AFRO HT Experts on COVID-19 (35 HT professionals, 19 countries ) Together for a healthier world The TAGLINE Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

8. A NEW partnership framework including Country HT Experts Historical background The story about the AFRO HT Experts on COVID-19 (35 HT professionals, 19 countries ) Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

9. A NEW partnership framework including Country HT Experts Historical background The story about the AFRO HT Experts on COVID-19 (35 HT professionals, 19 countries ) Together for a healthier world KEMT-EHTS/COVID-19®(©Mboule A., March 2020) Health Technology Categories and Areas of Utilization – Catégories et Domaines d'Utilisation des Technologies de la Santé AREAS OF UTILIZATION OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY DOMAINES D'UTILISATION DES TECHNOLOGIES DE LA SANTE No. Codes HEALTH TECHNOLOGY CATEGORIES CATEGORIES DESTECHNOLOGIES DE LA SANTE SCREENING DEPISTAGE PREVENTION PREVENTION DIAGNOSIS DIAGNOSTIC THERAPY TRAITEMENT REHABILITATION REHABILITATION                 1 CLD CLEANING-DISINFECTION-DECONTAMINATION NETTOYAGE-DESINFECTION-DECONTAMINATION           2 DIA DIAGNOSIS DIAGNOSTIC           3 ICU INTENSIVE CARE UNIT-AMBULANCES UNITE DE SOINS INTENSIFS - AMBULANCES           4 IMA IMAGING IMAGERIE           5 INF INFRASTRUCTURE INFRASTRUCTURES           6 ISL ISOLATION ISOLEMENT           7 MED MEDICATION-DRUGS MEDICAMENTS           8 OXP OXYGEN PLANT UNITE D'OXYGENE           9 PPE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENTS DE PROTECTION INDIVIDUELLE           10 SCR SCREENING-SURVEILLANCE DEPISTAGE - SURVEILLANCE           11 TEH TELEMEDICINE-TELEHEALTH TELEMEDECINE-TELESANTE           12 TLC TESTING-LABORATORY-COLD CHAIN TESTS-LABORATOIRE-CHAINE DE FROID           13 WMA WASTE MANAGEMENT GESTION DES DECHETS           Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

10. Professional consciousness of African HT professionals Existing gatherings of HT professionals Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Unawareness of the common goal Absence of regulatory body Diversion by individual interests Consideration in WHO, the global health authority Certain countries consider HT professionals in their health staff nomenclature Networking possibilities at international level Low involvement in national health management teams Lack of support from partners in health S W O T Together for a healthier world Key SWOT factors for a PERFORMANT STRATEGY Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

11. Methods Measurement Materials Machines Manpower 01 03 05 02 04 Develop HTM competencies , including project management, strategy development, and leadership Engage in continuous awareness of evolving health technologies Implement a technical management system with working tools, instruments, documentation, inventory, and management software Establish professional best practices through quality manual, procedures, standards, policy, and regulations Implement a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system Key 5M factors for EFFECTIVE OPERATIONS Together for a healthier world NOTA BENE: the 5M method is used here to propose improvement in HTM activities HTM Improvement Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

12. Effective operations Example 1 : The “big-nine” maintenance success factors Together for a healthier world Mboule, A, 2002 Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

13. Effective operations Example 2 : Identifying the maintenance concept in Rwanda (2008) – Summary (2 out of 5-level depth) Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

14. Organizational management Strategic planning Decision-making Quality assurance Human resource management Procurement management . Financial management Leadership Some of the competencies developed by an African HTM Expert 1. Setting up an HTM organizational structure for three States in Nigeria (1999) 2. Elaborating a Quality Manual for clinical engineering (CE) departments in Cameroon (2013) 3. Designing funding mechanisms for HTM in Guinea (2002) 4. Elaborating an HTM policy/strategy in Rwanda (2005) 5. Designing schemes of services for HTM human resources in Sierra Leone (2006) 6. Identifying the maintenance concept in Rwanda (2008) 7. Conducting a needs assessment for a tender process in Benin (2014) and Guinea (2016).  Together for a healthier world Effective operations Example 3 : The odyssey of an HTM expert by Mboule Andre (2017) Some experiences in the story Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

15. Improving BME/HTM Professionals in Africa 01 04 HAA OBJECTIVE 01 - Revive BME dormant Associations, e.g. South Africa, Cameroon – Tackle the challenges HAA OBJECTIVES 04 - Create an African Federation accredited by WHO and AU – Identify the steps 02 05 HAA OBJECTIVE 02 - Stimulate the creation of national associations – Differentiating BME, CE, HTM, HTA? HAA OBJECTIVE 05 - Create a Pan-African Institute on BME/CE/HTM – for the specific training needs 03 06 HAA OBJECTIVE 03 - Register BME/HTM associations with regulatory bodies HAA OBJECTIVE 06 - Put together professionals from academia, public sector, private sector HTM Agenda for Africa: OBJECTIVES Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

16. HTM Agenda for Africa – Conditions for Success Together for a healthier world Policymakers & other health professionals : From recognition to implication Partners in health development: support and better use of HTM expertise Professional associations: « esprit de corps », sense of belonging, advocacy Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

17. References Together for a healthier world Mboule, A. (1999), Final Report, Biomedical Engineering Services, AfDB-financed Kwara / Kogi /Niger States Health Project , Ilorin: Ministry of Health , Kwara State, Nigeria Mboule, A. (2001), SOFRECO: Livret 3: Strategie de maintenance des infrastructures et des equipements medicaux , EU- financed PASSIP, Conakry: Ministère de la Sante, Guinee Mboule, A. (2005), AEDES: Plan strategique national d’ ingenierie et de maintenance du patrimoine sanitaire , Lux- Development - financed Health project , Kigali: Ministère de la sante, Rwanda Mboule A. (2008), SANIPLAN: Pour le concept de Maintenance , GIZ- financed Health Project, Kigali: Ministère de la sante, Rwanda Mboule, A. (2013), EPOS: Manuel Qualite pour un Service biomedical hospitalier , GIZ- financed Health Project, Yaounde : Ministère de la sante, Cameroun Mboule, A. (2017), The odyssey of an HTM Expert in Africa. II International Clinical Engineering and Health Technology Management Congress, Sao Paolo, Brazil: IFMBE-CED Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

18. References Together for a healthier world THET, (October 2015). Towards Professional Quality: Strengthening Professional Associations for Biomedical Engineering Professionals ( Workshop) . Johannesburg, South Africa WHO, (2017). Human resources for medical devices: The role of biomedical engineers . WHO medical devices technical series WHO, (2011). Development of medical device policy . WHO medical devices technical series WHO/AFRO. (22 February 1999). Report on Health technology Policy in the African Region (AFRIRC49I12) WHO/AFRO. (14 September 1994). Resolution on the selection and development of health technologies at district level (AFR/RC44/R15) Mboule, A. ( October 2021)

19. MBOULE Andre HTM Leaders In Africa - KEMT Leaders & Consultants – P.O. Box 25096 - Yaounde - Cameroon – [phone] - [email protected] Thank you! #ubuntu Together for a healthier world