Resources

A great deal of knowledge already exists in the global health community regarding maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) medical devices and the challenges/barriers they face. But this knowledge is currently scattered across a variety of donor, partner, country, and academic sources, and as a result, is not easily accessible to the broader community. As such, PATH—under the Market Dynamics for MNCH Medical Devices project (MD4MD)—conducted a rapid desk research exercise focused on compiling information that was either publicly available or easily accessible, including: published literature, multilateral organization resources (such as policy briefs, technical reports, and guidelines); implementing partner projects (such as assessments, landscapes, and technical reports); donor investment documents; and expert interviews with relevant project leads and medical device experts.This evidence review focuses on eight specific devices: (1) manual blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer); (2) electric bCPAP device; (3) neonatal resuscitation device; (4) x-ray radiography machine; (5) point-of-care hemoglobin meter; (6) infusion device; (7) ultrasound (app-based “pocket” devices); and (8) ultrasound (traditional portable devices).The goal of these documents is to (1) summarize for policymakers and health system leaders the most important barriers that MNCH devices face, and (2) highlight potential interventions and key knowledge gaps to prioritize with future investments.

Ensuring the availability and scalability of affordable and quality-assured COVID-19 diagnostics that are appropriate for use in low-resource settings.

Fact Sheet: Advancing polio eradication: A rapid diagnostic test for primary immunodeficiency diseases

Fact Sheet: Highly sensitive tests for malaria- Identifying the final cases in areas close to elimination

PATH and Sinapi Biomedical, South Africa, developed the first low-cost, fully assembled uterine balloon tamponade device to help protect women from the leading cause of maternal death, post-partum hemorrhage. The Ellavi UBT is preassembled device used in multiple countries to manage postpartum hemorrhage.In 2020, Harvard University researcher, Elizabeth Pylant Bransford Maxwell, authored a study: "A Comparative Analysis of User Experience With Uterine Balloon Devices During Standardized Postpartum Hemorrhage Simulations" which showed the Ellavi UBT to be the "simplest, easiest, and fastest device to use overall."