The extent to which circular economy principles have been applied in the design of medical devices for low-resource settings in Sub-Saharan Africa. A systematic review
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Article written by Karlheinz Todo Samenjo, Roos Marieke Oosting, Conny Bakker and Jan Carel Diehl
This study shows Circular Economy(CE) design principles are incorporated in medical device design for Low Resource Settings(LRS), and a firm grasp of the concept can be instrumental and ensure that medical devices continue to be designed for longevity and do not end up disposed of as waste into the environment. Academicians and medical device designers can explore how CE as a concept can be integrated in the design of medical devices that can remain used over time to provide healthcare for people in LRS. Based on a systematic review of 29 out of 1,799 screened scientific papers, we identified the use of circular economy principles of durability, maintenance, repair, and upgrade in designing medical devices for this setting.
These study findings serve as a launchpad for exploring how circular principles can be used to support the design of medical devices for low-resource settings in Sub-Saharan Africa. Academicians and designers of medical devices can leverage this research to contribute towards developing medical devices that support access to healthcare for people in low-resource settings and preserve earth’s finite resources.
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