Klaus Schönenberger in a Cameroun hospital
EssentialMed, a start-up based at EPFL's science park, has as its mission the development of medical devices specially designed for poorer countries. To succeed in this, it leverages the know-how of three EPFL laboratories and also the Paul Scherrer Institute. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 70% of medical devices acquired by developing countries, or donated, will never actually be used! This is due to, for example, insufficient knowledge or expertise to install the device, missing electrical cables, or the absence of qualified personnel. And the remaining 30% often can no longer be used when it becomes necessary to order accessories or spare parts. The vast majority of the inhabitants of these countries has no access to such essential equipment as X-ray machines, incubators for newborn babies or equipment for anesthetics. EssentialMed, a start-up established in September 2010 at the Science Park at Ecublens, is working to improve this situation. This is indeed a vast project since, to be effective, the device must be adapted to the context in which it is to be used.
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