title: An approach to prioritization of medical devices in low-income countries: an example based on the Republic of South Sudan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Efficient and evidence-based medical device and equipment prioritization is of particular importance in low-income countries due to constraints in financing capacity, physical infrastructure and human resource capabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper outlines a medical device prioritization method developed in first instance for the Republic of South Sudan. The simple algorithm offered here is a starting point for procurement and selection of medical devices and can be regarded as a screening test for those that require more labour intensive health economic modelling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A heuristic method, such as the one presented here, is appropriate for reaching many medical device prioritization decisions in low-income settings. Further investment and purchasing decisions that cannot be reached so simply require more complex health economic modelling approaches.
authors.affiliation: Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Dental and Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, West Midlands, B15 2TT UK ; Warwick Centre for Applied Health Research and Delivery, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK.
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lilford
authors.affiliation: Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Dental and Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, West Midlands, B15 2TT UK.
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Burn
authors.affiliation: Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Dental and Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, West Midlands, B15 2TT UK.
authors.forename: Karin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Diaconu
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Finance, Government of South Sudan, Juba, South Sudan.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lilford
authors.affiliation: Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Dental and Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, West Midlands, B15 2TT UK.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Chilton
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ UK.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bion
authors.affiliation: Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Dental and Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, West Midlands, B15 2TT UK.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.affiliation: Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, College of Dental and Medical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, West Midlands, B15 2TT UK.
authors.forename: Semira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manaseki-Holland
keywords: Equipment; Low-income country; Medical devices; Prioritization; Purchasing; Selection