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Lack of biomedical engineers in the country to procure, manage and repair biomedical equipment has caused about 60 percent of the equipment in medical facilities across the country to go waste.

Research carried out showed that most of the health facilities in the country and other developing countries lack qualified biomedical engineers to professionally use, handle and repair broken down biomedical equipment.

This was revealed by a senior lecturer at the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences at the University of Ghana, Dr. Eric Kwasi Ofori during the 3rd Annual Biomedical International Conference organized by the Biomedical Engineering Department of All Nations University College in Koforidua, the Eastern regional capital on Tuesday.

The two days conference was on the theme: Emerging Trends in Biomedical Engineering and Bio-engineering and its Impact on Human Health.

Speaking to Daily Heritage on the sidelines of the conference, Dr. Eric Kwasi Ofori stated that many medical equipment imported into the country for improvement of health care have broken down for years without repairs.

Dr. Ofori attributed this problem to lack of qualified biomedical engineers capable of servicing and repairing damaged equipment.

He said biomedical and bioengineers, worldwide have become very crucial part of health sector due to these tragic role they play in the delivery of effective healthcare.

The Head of biomedical Department at All Nations University College, Dr. Achibald Danquah-Amoah commended government for absorbing more biomedical engineers into the health sector but urged Government to also employ biomedical engineers into Polyclinics across the country to complements effective healthcare delivery.

Dr. Danquah-Amoah said All Nations University College was the first tertiary institution to introduce Biomedical Engineering course 10 years ago and has since produced biomedical engineers now serving Ghana and other West African countries.

He explained that the department is celebrating its 10th anniversary adding that the conference is part of activities lined up to mark the anniversary.