ISSN 印刷: 2151-805X
ISSN オンライン: 2151-8068
Health Care in the Developing World: Embracing a New Definition of Technology to Include Biomaterials
要約
The focus in the international health community has shifted over the past century from eradicating infectious diseases to strengthening primary health care, and an important component of primary health care in today's hospitals is the use of technology. However, the developing world is significantly disadvantaged in this regard. Upon consideration of the major categories of health care technology and the conditions under which they fail in the developing world, it becomes clear that the criteria for appropriateness of technology are inherently different in the developing world versus the developed world. Under a broader, more inclusive definition of technology, biomaterials represent one opportunity for the developing world to contribute to the growing canon of healthcare technology. Biomaterials can empower developing countries to leverage their own agricultural capabilities to contribute to novel medical technologies.