Medical devices are expensive compared to other products in the market, especially due to the cost of R&D and certification processes. In addition, costs such as logistics expenses, customs taxes and exchange rate differences related to the products purchased from abroad are added to the costs and this situation increases the prices even more. Although some medical devices are produced in our country, our dependence on foreign sources still continues to a great extent. As our production capacity and the range of devices we can produce increase, our external dependence will decrease and device prices will become more affordable over time. However, for now, we are dependent on foreign countries in the field of medical devices. This is reflected in the prices. This leads people and organizations to second-hand medical devices that cost less than new ones.
The second hand medical device market is growing rapidly in our country as in the world. This growth is advantageous in several ways. One of the most important advantages of the industry is to make old medical devices usable and bring them back to the economy, instead of being thrown into the garbage or waiting idle. Instead of buying new devices, it is possible to bring them to the market by renewing old devices or repairing defective ones. This situation makes a great contribution to the national economy. From the consumer side, there can be an opportunity to supply products with much more affordable prices than new ones. This is true for both hospital and household appliances.
There are advantages and disadvantages to second-hand medical device procurement. The most important advantage is the costs. Considering the hundreds of devices that should be in hospitals, it can be predicted how high the cost of all of them will be. Supplying some of them as second hand provides a serious economic benefit. The profit obtained here can be used for different expenses of the hospital. The same applies to places such as infirmary, ambulance, medical center, clinic, OHS and OSGB.
Every place that provides healthcare services must have some medical devices compulsory in accordance with the legislation. Supplying some of them as second hand also reduces costs. Second-hand medical devices may also be preferred for patients being cared for at home. Thus, the profit can be spent on other medical products. There are many medical consumables that should be used regularly in the care process of patients. Examples of these include products such as filters, catheters, and gauze. Almost all of these materials are used every day and therefore the monthly consumption is quite high. These materials can be purchased with the profit obtained by procuring second-hand medical devices. Apart from this, it can also be considered as the ambulance cost for the transfer of the patient and the caregiver fee for the care.
When supplying second-hand medical devices, it is necessary to either purchase from a service provider or make a service agreement with a reliable service provider in order to eliminate any malfunctions that may occur in the future. It should be kept in mind that there is a risk of not finding spare parts for very old devices. It is necessary to supply devices whose spare parts are still readily available and serviceable.
Some of the second hand medical devices are available on the market before the warranty expires. When purchasing such a device, the original invoice and warranty documents must also be received during the shopping in order to benefit from warranty services in the future. In case of any malfunction, the authorized service may request these documents to be presented. If the originals of the documents are not submitted, the service may not be provided under warranty. This situation is not valid for every service company. Some companies keep device records within their own structure, so they can follow the warranty period of the devices. Others may request invoices and warranty documents for the services they will provide under warranty. For this reason, it is necessary to receive the second hand medical devices, whose warranty continues, together with their documents.
Some companies that sell second-hand medical devices with expired warranty can provide warranty services themselves. Device warranty can be given for 15 days, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months or 1 year under varying conditions depending on the company and device. In such cases, the warranty coverage may not be as in new devices. Certain parts may be warranted for different durations. Or, as with new devices, the entire device can be guaranteed. The devices may also be available for sale without any warranty. These details should be discussed with the vendor before purchasing the device. Does the device have a warranty? If yes, what is its scope and conditions? The answer to such questions should be clarified before the shopping is completed.
Whether the devices to be purchased as second hand work should be checked before the shopping is completed. If the shopping is done at a distance, videos about the product may be requested from the seller. However, it should be kept in mind that the videos may be old recordings. In order to be more reliable, the status of the device can be checked by making a live connection with smart phones. The services provided in this way increase the trust in the vendor.
Some medical devices need regular service. When not done, the life of the devices decreases and the risk of malfunction increases in the future. Devices that did not receive regular maintenance in the past can also be placed on the market as second hand. If such a device is purchased, it may malfunction in a short time and cause costs. It may even be completely out of use. In order to reduce this risk, second-hand devices with regular and timely service maintenance should be preferred.
It is also very important that the spare parts of the device to be purchased are easily available from the market. The year of manufacture of the devices is an important factor in the availability of spare parts. If any part fails and cannot be repaired, the part must be replaced with a new one. During this period, the device may be out of use. The spare parts that are widely available in the market are both more affordable and enable the defective device to be repaired quickly. Parts needed for service can also be brought from abroad when necessary.
The brand, model, production location, after-sales support services and widespread service network of the devices are among the important issues to be considered during the procurement phase. Companies or individuals selling second-hand medical devices may not be able to provide services. If devices with widespread service are preferred, needs such as installation, repair and training can be easily met. Otherwise, service times can be expensive and lengthy. In addition, some brands of products are more durable than others. Choosing second-hand brands of these brands reduces the risk of malfunction.
When the device is purchased, it must be checked by an authorized service. In addition, having the calibration tests of the device helps to determine that it is working correctly. These types of checks also give clues about the level of failure risk in the future.
When purchasing a second-hand medical device, it is necessary to pay attention to whether the outside or inside of the device has been changed. This control can be done from the service menu of the device. It can be checked by comparing the serial number in the memory records with the serial numbers in the safe. In addition, how long the device has been used can be determined from the memory records. The less it is used, the less the risk of malfunction in the future. At least the next maintenance period can be planned in advance.
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