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Biomaterials use in M ulago National Referral Hospital in K ampala, U ganda: Access and affordability
Author(s) -
Bakwatanisa Bosco,
Enywaku Alfred,
Kiwanuka Martin,
Lamunu Claire,
Mbowa Nicholas,
Mukiibi Denis,
Namayega Catherine,
Ngabirano Beryl,
Ntambi Henry,
Reichert William
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.35542
Subject(s) - referral , materials science , advertising , business , medicine , family medicine
Students in Biomaterials BBE3102 at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda were assigned semester long group projects in the first semester of the 2014‐15 academic year to determine the biomaterials type and usage in Mulago National Referral Hospital, which is emblematic of large public hospitals across East Africa. Information gathering was conducted through student interviews with Mulago physicians because there were no archival records. The students divided themselves into seven project groups covering biomaterials use in the areas of wound closure, dental and oral surgery, cardiology, burn care, bone repair, ophthalmology and total joint replacement. As in the developed world, the majority of biomaterials used in Mulago are basic wound closure materials, dental materials, and bone fixation materials, all of which are comparatively inexpensive, easy to store, and readily available from either the government or local suppliers; however, there were significant issues with the implant supply chain, affordability, and patient compliance and follow‐up in cases where specialty expertise and expensive implants were employed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 104–112, 2016.