POST 01218: COLD CHAIN EQUIPMENT: A BUDGET FOR SCRAPPING

POST 01218: COLD CHAIN EQUIPMENT: A BUDGET FOR SCRAPPING FOLLOW UP ON POSTS 01216E, 01214E 22 January 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you to John Llyod for outlining a simple and efficient classification system of existing cold chain equipment to plan for repair or replacement. The CCEM tool mentioned in the contribution is scheduled to be made available to the public in early 2008. Do write in to tell us how such units get handled in your countries and whether you have a specific national policy. **************************************************************** Lora Shrimp's field experience is very very welcome. Real field observations are so much better than generalizations. Nevertheless, permit me a generalization regarding Lora's remarks on equipment working condition and replacement. Up-to-date inventories of equipment are vital to the decision to renew equipment but they always stumble on the question of whether equipment is not working, but could be repaired or is not working and should be replaced. Very few countries determine clearly the conditions which merit condemning equipment (for scrap or resale). But this decision is vital not only for planning renewal but now also to protect the environment.....scrapping needs to be planned. Ideally, the decision to scrap and renew should be informed by timely technician reporting, but this is rarely practised. Ideally, records of the performance/downtime/ repair cost of each model should be tracked centrally so that the economic lifetime of a model can be determined. But this also is rarely practised. In the absence of the ideal.... At this time, which is so important for the introduction of new vaccines and expansion of immunization generally, let’s decide on the following policy as an international default (over-ridden by national policy if it exists): Equipment is: WW - Working well or WNS - Working but needs servicing (minor repairs) NW - Not working Most surveyors and health staff can cope with this classification (another generalization) [These are the designations of the WHO Inventory Spreadsheet and the WHO/UNICEF/PATH Cold Chain Equipment Management (CCEM) open source database application.] Now...let: NW + 10+ years in service (since purchased new) = the renewal point. If better data exists on the model or from technician reports, fine, use it. But let the planning for equipment replacement be based on age and working status as a default. And make sure that the equipment which is condemned for scrapping is: 1. collected from the facility; 2. taken to an equipped scrapping point; and 3. scrapped in an environmentally acceptable way if CFC-based unit. The plan, in other words, should contain a budget for scrapping. This may sound idealistic, but let’s start to move towards planned equipment replacement? Best wishes to everyone, John LLoyd All members of the TechNet21 e-Forum are invited to send comments on any posting or to use the forum to raise a new discussion or request technical information in relation to immunization services. The comments made in this forum are the sole responsibility of the writers and do not in any way mean that they are endorsed by any of the organizations and agencies to which the authors may belong. Visit the TECHNET21 Website at http://www.technet21.org You will find instructions to subscribe, a direct access to archives, links to reference documents and other features. To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a message to : [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask] Leave the subject area BLANK In the message body, write unsubscribe TECHNET21E The World Health Organization and UNICEF support TechNet21. The TechNet21 e-Forum is a communication/information tool for generation of ideas on how to improve immunization services. It is moderated by Padmini Menon and is hosted in cooperation with IT Power India (www.itpi.co.in)