Here's the latest info shared by WHO's Adriana Velázquez regarding Medical Devices and the World Health Organization (February 2022).
Contents of February 2022 Newsletter:
Section 1: New WHO publications
Section 2: Events
Section 3: Consultants required for medical devices 2022 projects
You can find all past newsletters here; WHO medical devices information here; WHO in vitro diagnostics information here and WHO oxygen-related here. New health technology assessment page here.
WHO COVID-19 Dashboard
Globally, as of 5:44 pm CET, 17 February 2022, there have been 416,614,051 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,844,097 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 15 February 2022, a total of 10,279,668,555 vaccine doses have been administered.
Globally, as of 4:42 pm CEST, January 20, 2022, there have been 336,790,193 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,560,718 deaths, reported to WHO. As of January 19, 2022, a total of 9,571,502,663 vaccine doses have been administered.
Globally, as of 4:48 pm CEST, December 10, 2021, there have been 267,865,289 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,285,888 deaths, reported to WHO. As of December 9, 2021, a total of 8,158,815,265 vaccine doses have been administered.
New WHO Publications
1.1 World Cancer Day: closing the care gap: More information here
New Publication: Setting Up a Cancer Centre: A WHO–IAEA Framework
Setting Up a Cancer Centre: a WHO-IAEA Framework, being released by the World Health Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency for World Cancer Day, proposes a framework for both establishing a cancer center and strengthening the provision of services in existing centers.
Intended for policy-makers, program managers, and health professionals, it provides details of the infrastructure, human resources, and equipment required for essential services, taking into consideration local context and resources available.
1.2 Global analysis of health care waste in the context of COVID-19: More information here
Globally, safe waste management services for healthcare waste are lacking, especially in the least developed countries.
The latest available data (from 2019) indicate that 1 in 3 healthcare facilities globally does not safely manage healthcare waste.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to large increases in healthcare waste, straining under-resourced healthcare facilities and exacerbating environmental impacts from solid waste.
Open Calls and Events
2.1 Call for in vitro diagnostics test to be added to the Essential in vitro diagnostic list EDL4.
The details of the call including deadlines, priorities, and the submission process can be found here or here.
Additional information on the EDL can be found here.
2.2 Save the date, launch of training videos: webinar Monday 28 of February 2022
More information on the event page: Webinar: Training videos for biomedical equipment for oxygen delivery systems
After launch, the training course will be available in OpenWHO https://openwho.org/pages/catalogues
2.3. World Hearing Day, 3rd March
More information at https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-hearing-day/2022
2.4 TB in children and the role of chest Radiography
WHO, together with the International Society of Radiology (ISR) and the World Federation of Pediatric Imaging (WFPI), will organize a joint webinar to commemorate World TB Day 2022 on Thursday, March 24 (afternoon European time).
It will be focused on the management of tuberculosis in children and adolescents and the role of chest radiography. Please make sure to mark your calendar!
More information here: World Tuberculosis Day 2022
Consultancy Open for 2022 Projects
WHO will be initiating new projects this year and continuing others and therefore is looking for consultants in the following areas listed below.
The timeline requested for most projects is about 6 months: March to September, depending on the project, time is variable.
No need to travel outside your own country. Consultant companies, academia, or individual expert can be considered.
Please note that the EOI that was received in January have been screened and short-listed candidates have or will be interviewed on the 14 and 21 of February.
For these new topics, please send an expression of interest (EOI) to medicaldevices@who.int by Friday 25 February, attaching an updated CV and area of interest. Thank you.
CTAP
Selection of priority medical devices for small and sick babies (including for NICU)
IVDs mapping into the UHC Compendium
Nomenclature of Medical Devices
Personal Protective Equipment
Please Stay safe, take care, get vaccinated when possible, and wear your PPE!
Best wishes for a safe and healthier 2022!
Sincerely,
Adriana Velazquez Berumen, MSc. | Biomedical Clinical Engineer | Team Lead Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics, MDD | Health Product Policy and Standards Department, HPS | Access to Medicines and Health Products Division, MHP | World Health Organization, WHO | Geneva, Switzerland
Email: velazquezberumena@who.int; medicaldevices@who.int
Web: www.who.int | www.who.int/medical_devices/en/ | Follow WHO on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.