Buyers Guides for COVID-19 Products
Essential Equipment and Supplies for COVID-19
As the global pandemic takes its toll on all countries and economies, better preparedness for slowing the transmission, managing patients with COVID-19, and protecting frontline health workers is critical. Our collective understanding of the origins, symptoms, transmission, and most effective clinical management of COVID-19 are rapidly evolving with emerging research and technological developments.
As always, VIA Global Health is committed to delivering life-saving medical equipment and supplies to communities in emerging markets who most need them. Our team is working around the clock to source and deliver COVID-19 products to our buyers as efficiently and as affordably as possible. We continue to monitor the global situation and refer to emerging guidelines from the World Health Organization (found here) about priority products for clinical management, diagnosis, and rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and to the best of our ability, make products available for our buyers.
Check out this Useful Tool from the World Health Organization, it’s a quick reference on COVID-19 Clinical Management and is “live” with updates from emerging evidence.
There are some unique challenges in the global supply chain that affect inventory, shipping, and pricing which we are monitoring and troubleshooting daily. However, VIA Global Health continues to source critical PPE, diagnostics, and COVID-19 patient management supplies from our network of trusted manufacturers. See HERE for COVID-19 essential supplies currently available from VIA.
WHAT IS NEEDED FOR COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT?
Clinical assessment can be done using body temperature (infrared and digital thermometers) and oxygen saturation measurement using pulse oximeters.
Medical imaging uses ultrasound for basic cardiac and lung studies, and at higher level facilities can be done with computed tomography (CT scans) or X-rays.
Clinical Laboratory devices include blood gas analyzers, real-time PCR systems for nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), and antigen tests (rapid diagnostics).
Clinical Care of patients with COVID-19 is wide ranging, from multiparameter patient monitors, products for oxygen therapy, airway management and intubation, ventilators, and infusion therapy.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) remains critical for protecting healthcare workers and preventing transmission of COVID-19 in healthcare and community settings.
Importantly, there are a number of consumables and accessories that accompany devices, testing kits, etc, which would need to be incorporated into the purchasing decision and planning for ownership.
Information in these Buyers Guides will be useful for purchasing decisions and preparing health care systems to safely respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. VIA Global Health does not make clinical recommendations; product selection should be considered according to the training and skills of the available health workforce, facility infrastructure, and existing resources and technologies within and available to the healthcare system. We recommend consulting with the guidelines from World Health Organization (here) and local, and national guidelines and protocols.(1)
Related Buyers Guides
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Masks, gowns, goggles, gloves isolation suits, learn more.
Patient Triage and Monitoring
Infrared thermometers and patient monitors, learn more.
Oxygen Therapy and Ventilation
Oxygen concentrators, ventilators, biPAP and CPAP, learn more.
COVID-19 Testing
PCR/molecular tests and rapid tests, learn more.
References and Acknowledgments
(1) Priority Medical Devices List for COVID-19 Response and Associated Technical Specifications. November 2020. World Health Organization (WHO) Country & Technical Guidance – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Found Here