Organizations Working on Medical Equipment Donations
The following organizations work in the area of donated medical equipment. They may service and repair donated equipment before it is sent to a hospital, clinic or other organization in need; offer match-making between entities who have a donation and those that have a need; and/or offer guidelines to help organizations maintain quality in donated equipment. It is very important to pay attention to guidelines on donated medical equipment, such as those from PQMD listed below. (This list does not indicate CCIH endorsement of these organizations, however, we have indicted which ones are CCIH members, which means they have undergone a vetting process.)
Helpful Resources
Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD) | PQMD is an association for organizations interested in and involved in medical donations. It does not supply medicines or supplies, rather it sets standards and guidelines to maintain quality. Contact +1-410-848-7036 | Guidelines for Quality Medical Donations
MedSurplus Alliance | The MedSurplus Alliance (MSA) is a cross-sector alliance that works collaboratively to improve access to quality donated medical products, through accreditation, capacity-building, management and technology solutions, and leadership. The organization aims to increase the efficiency, value, scope, and quality of medical product donations.
Paper Published by the National Academy of Medicine | Access to Medical Devices in Low-Income Countries: Addressing Sustainability Challenges in Medical Device Donation, published by the National Academy of Medicine in July 2018. The authors reviewed some challenges arising in the area of donated medical equipment. For example, according to the authors, a surprising amount of biomedical equipment donated to low-income countries sit unused, and an estimated 40% of donated medical equipment in low-income countries is broken or inoperable. The authors explore how to make those donations more sustainable.
Organizations that Accept and Distribute Donations
- Advocates for World Health strives to reuse as many donations as possible. They accept functioning medical equipment, as well as semi-functional and inoperable machinery. As long as the condition of the equipment is fair, they have trained technicians to repair minor damage and ensure the product’s functionality. In order to make a shipment, AWH requires the sponsor or recipient to perform a needs assessment either through AWH or a neutral third party to ensure that the donations they send can be properly used and maintained at the donation location. Contact: support (at) awhealth.org
- Afya Foundation: Afya’s mission is to improve global health by rescuing surplus medical supplies and delivering them to underserved health systems around the world. Email: info (at) afyafoundation.org
- Brother’s Brother Foundation is an international charity that has provided aid to 149 countries, including over four billion dollars worth of medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, educational materials, and other humanitarian equipment to people around the world. Large donations of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies including surgical instruments have allowed Brother’s Brother Foundation to supply numerous clinics and hospitals across the world with the necessary supplies they need to serve their communities. Contact Form
- Earth911 has a page with information about where to donate used crutches, wheelchairs, boots and braces.
- Esperanca: Each year Esperança sends one sea shipment container full of donated medical goods to partners in Central and South America for use in our clinics and hospitals. These supplies are used by surgical volunteer teams and distributed to hospitals in need in the region. Contact: info (at) esperanca.org
- FAME accepts gently used donated medical supplies and equipment. They redistribute these donations globally through a small boxes of supplies – up to a 40′ shipping container that holds tons. Those medical supplies equip doctors, nurses, and missionaries as they provide humanitarian medical care.
- Giving Tree Medical purchases, tests, and reviews both used and new medical equipment in order to source and provide equipment for missionary physicians.
- Global Links: Each year, Global Links recovers 300 tons of surplus and no longer needed medical materials, mobility aids, home care supplies, and healthcare furnishings for use in its health improvement programs. Global Links is a medical relief and development organization dedicated to supporting health improvement initiatives in resource-poor communities and promoting environmental stewardship in the US healthcare system. Contact: info (at) globallinks.org or +1 412.361.3424
- Globus Relief provides medical products around the world. It has distributed medical equipment and supplies to over 800 qualified charities in over 140 countries and within the United States. Contact: donations (at) globusrelief.org or +1 (801) 977-0444
- Healing Hands International provides supplies to save and improve the quality of life for thousands of individuals. They receive donations, then provide them to doctors, clinics and hospitals. Contact Form
- Healthcare 4 Africa is a UK charity focusing purely on the relief of poverty and sickness and the promotion and preservation of good health for the benefit of the public, in particular but not exclusively in sub-Saharan Africa, by the provision of healthcare centers and medical aid, equipment and assistance. Healthcare4Africa works with organizations who wish to donate clothing’s and medical equipment and consumables towards improved Africa Healthcare system. Contact Form
- InterVol recovers and redistributes medical supplies and equipment, and provides volunteer opportunities for medical professionals and aspiring educators. Contact: info (at) intervol.org
- Medshare recovers millions of pounds of surplus medical supplies and equipment from landfills and incinerators that, for various regulatory reasons, hospitals and medical companies must discard. It accepts donations of unused, unexpired medical surplus supplies and used biomedical equipment through its hospital recovery program and corporate product donations. Contact: National Headquarters and Southeast Region (U.S.): +1-770-323-5858, Western Region (U.S.) : +1-510-567-7070, Northeast Region (U.S.): +1-201-866-6090 (Equipment can be delivered internationally)
- MEDWISH International partners with local agencies in order to fulfill the needs of our local community. We’ve realized that every day, many families and individuals struggle to find assistance in getting the medical equipment they need to improve a loved one’s quality of life. This program supplements our mission and allows us to serve vulnerable populations in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.” Contact: Humanitarian Aid Program Manager, Jennifer Buck at +1-216.692.1685 x66 or via email at domesticaid (at) medwish.org (Equipment can be delivered internationally)
- Medical Bridges encourages the donation of new supplies and new or used equipment that can be sent to underserved communities around the world. Contact: Phone: (+1) 713-748-8131
- Pan American Development Foundation distributes new and used equipment and supplies to health care institutions that serve vulnerable populations. Donated materials include: hospital beds, dental equipment, computerized tomography (CT) scanners, neonatal intensive care units, anesthesia units, and other equipment.
- Project C.U.R.E. delivers medical equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics in more than 130 countries. Contact Form
- REMEDY/ Recover Medical Equipment for the Developing World facilitates the recovery of unused medical supplies for the purpose of global aid, waste reduction, and cost-effectiveness. Contact Form
- THET and Partnerships for Global Health: The Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) trains health workers in Africa and Asia, working in partnership with organizations and volunteers from across the UK. Guidelines for Donations: THET has a UK-specific toolkit for health partnerships to assist them in evaluating whether or not to donate, and how to do so effectively. Contact: info (at) thet.org
- World Medical Mission (through Samaritan’s Purse) supports mission hospitals by providing equipment, supplies, and technical support. We operate a warehouse that makes shipments to dozens of countries.
Organizations that Complete Service and Repair after Donation
- Relink Global Health (CCIH Member) supports health care facilities with basic medical equipment in Haiti and other countries where they ensure there are plans in place for local supply chains and technicians to service the equipment.
- American Medical Resource Foundation donates medical equipment and supplies to hospitals that serve the poor in underdeveloped and developing countries. AMRF arranges and provides the donation of: Refurbished but Functional Medical Equipment, Technical Services to Hospitals and Clinics Serving the Needy in these Countries, Training of User, Maintenance, and Repair Personnel of Medical Equipment in Recipient Hospitals and Clinics. Contact: amrf1951 (at) gmail.com
Organizations that Match Donors and Receivers (with initial testing and repair)
- International Aid (formerly part of CURE International a CCIH Member) International Aid is one of the largest reconditioners of medical equipment in the faith-based, non-profit sector, providing anything from anesthesia machines to X-ray equipment. They also also offer assessments for hospitals and medical centers preparing to expand or enhance current operations. Onsite evaluations, recommendations for next steps and a list of needed resources are all available as needed with prior agreement. Contact: info (at) internationalaid.org
- Global Hand is a matching service to help organizations in global health and development find partners. Contact Form
- HUMATEM coordinates donations of medical devices between health stakeholders and international aid organizations supporting medical equipment for healthcare facilities in developing countries. The Bank of Medical Devices enables health stakeholders (donors) to offer medical devices and for the international aid organizations (running the projects), to obtain those that are appropriate for the needs of the healthcare facilities they support. The international aid organizations are selected by written application and receive advice on the conduct of their projects. Contact: contact (at) humatem.org
- International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP) accepts used medical equipment and reviews it to make sure it is in good condition and will meet the needs of the accepting country. They also provide guidance on its installation and use. The shipping expenses are required to be paid in advance or arranged by the developing country. Financial help is available in some cases. IOMP follows the instructions from the WHO Guidelines for used equipment. Contact: sg.iomp (at) gmail.com
- MED-EQ (Part of REMEDY) Med-Eq is a free service that specializes in pairing donors with vetted charities, most of which will use these supplies overseas. Items may range from bandages and catheter supplies, to hospital beds or surplus inventory and might be small enough to donate by mail, or require a container truck pick-up. Charities and non-profit organizations which have 501(c)(3) not-for-profit status may join Med-Eq to become eligible to receive donations. Contact Form
Organizations that Donate Equipment Domestically (In the U.S.)
HERO (Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization) maintains a healthcare accessory store to provide donated medical items for those in need in the Fargo-Moorhead area (in North Dakota in the United States). They provide low cost and waived fee purchase options for those struggling with financial hardship. HERO provides surplus medical supplies and instruments to mission teams globally. HERO accepts donations of clean, gently used healthcare equipment and supplies from individuals, hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities. Contact: Georgia (at) HEROFargo.org
Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics
Blessings International (Pharmaceutical Donations) (CCIH Member) Blessings helps medical missions primarily in developing nations by serving as a source of pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and medical supplies for medical mission teams, clinics, and hospitals. The Medication Repackaging Service order information is available on the Order page.
International Health Partners (IHP) is a global health NGO based in the UK. They support people in disaster-hit and vulnerable communities to get the medicines they need, by coordinating the safe and responsible donation of long-dated medical products. Working with a strong network of global healthcare partners, they source and send treatments to help people around the world. IHP only works through established NGO partners, however, if you are interested in becoming a partner, please email info (at) ihpuk.org.
Rad-Aid (Radiology, Imaging, and Diagnostic Donations) is a network of partners bringing radiology and medical imaging to low-resource regions. If you are an organization seeking to partner with RAD-AID, email info (at) rad-aid.org.
Prosthetics
LN4 Hand Project provides free prosthetic hands to people in need across the globe.
Vision
Global Vision 2020‘s USee Vision Kit™ is a lightweight portable system that enables people in the most remote areas on earth to have prescription glasses.
RestoringVision (CCIH Member) partners with donors and over 2,700 NGO and government agency partners to provide glasses to people in need.