MEDICAL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR - FINAL REPORT

Evaluation covers the period 9/1/78 to 9/30/80 and consists of the contractor"s final report. Although committed to the project, the Ministry of Health (MOH) could not provide the personnel, work space, and other logistical support agreed-upon. A management system was designed and implemented, but was not centralized to the degree planned. Practical training in equipment maintenance and repair was made difficult by the transfer of several persons to other departments or to military service. MOH"s decision -- agreed to too quickly by USAID -- to construct a prefabricated building for a central workshop rather than use existing space led to the contractor spending a great deal of time on design and construction details. The building was not finished during the 2-year project. The greatest progress was made during the last 6 months: an X-ray specialist and electronics engineer were assigned to the equipment department (ED), followed by eight graduates from the technical training courses--electricians, drivers, a mechanic, and a plumber. At the project"s completion, the ED was sufficiently strengthened to permit continued improvement and growth. A mobile workshop had been acquired; a file of existing repair manuals developed; and an equipment inventory for the southern region 60% completed. Although spare parts procurement remains a problem, the backlog of repairs has been eliminated. The 12 southern regional hospitals now have at least part-time qualified personnel. Finally, the need for a centralized preventive maintenance system has been recognized and will soon be addressed. The project had minimal effect on Syria"s primary health care system; 95% of the repair unit"s activity was directed towards the governmental hospital system. This may show the superiority (not necessarily regarding cost-effectiveness) for health sector development of many small projects over a few large ones. The project has taught the need for host government commitment and support for project success.