In Nigeria today, the uplifting influence of technology on healthcare provision cannot be exaggerated. Though the nation is yet to attain the level developed countries have attained regarding enhanced healthcare provision, one will be perplexed to see how far our country has proceeded technologically. From an improved operational efficiency to standards in healthcare provision, the technological revamp has improved the entire healthcare sector.

One cannot refute the fact that innovations and progressions in biomedical technology are the backbone of modern medicine in Nigeria and have resulted in life-changing treatments and cure for patients. A typical reflection of this was experienced by yours truly while I was doing my internship at the prestigious University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu State. I was opportune to witness the facilitation of an Open Heart Surgery procedure by professional Biomedical Technologists and Engineers who in their absence, the procedure would have proved a Herculean task or even abortive.

Aside from the highlighted example, Biomedical Technology and Engineering have had notable influences in other parts of healthcare in Nigeria. Its positive impacts have helped promote diagnosis, therapy, surgery (as mentioned earlier), public health, conceptual diagnostics, health records to mention but a few. This has drastically lessened the rate of morbidity and mortality in the country.

If Biomedical Technology/Engineering is this vital, who then are Biomedical Technologists/Engineers?

An understanding of who a biomedical technologist/engineer is cannot be whole if the concise explanation of the field, biomedical technology is not provided. Biomedical technology broadly refers to the application of engineering and technology principles in biology and medicine. It deals with ways of combating issues related to human health and diseases. Within its scope lies the design, fabrication, use, maintenance, calibration, and repair of medical and health equipment and processes respectively. It is the synergy of the applications of biological and medical engineering in solving problems related to man.

A Biomedical Technologist/Engineer then is a trained professional who ensures the design, fabrication, configuration, maintenance, repair and safe functioning of medical equipment and processes. Though not limited to medical and health equipment and processes, in Nigeria, Biomedical Technologists and Engineers work in hospitals, clinics, private sector companies, military and health institutions.

In the Nigerian health industry, they install, inspect, maintain, repair, calibrate, modify and design biomedical equipment and support systems to adhere to medical and safety standard guidelines. They also educate, train and advise staff and other health personnel on theories of equipment operation, physiological principles, and safe clinical application of biomedical equipment maintaining the facility’s patient care and medical staff equipment. It does not stop there; they also partake in the daily management and problem-solving workflow of basic healthcare technology. These management duties include capital asset planning, project management, budgeting and personnel management, designing interfaces and integrating medical systems, training end users to utilize medical technology and evaluation of new devices for acquisition.
Over the years, awareness for this noble profession in the country has been discouraging, and this has had debilitating effects on the provision of healthcare in the nation. The awareness level in the country notwithstanding, this discipline has managed to play a crucial role in the advancement of quality healthcare in Nigeria.

With technology advancing each day ferociously, there comes a great need to keep up with the various technological advancements in the health sector. Though Nigeria is a still a developing country with only 3.9% of its total 2018 budget allocated to health, there’s a demanding need to meet up with the global healthcare technology trends as to sustain and improve the level of healthcare provision. Public and private health institutions who wish to stay ahead of others in the industry need to adopt innovative technological procedures to healthcare delivery. For one to meet up with these technology trends and stay ahead in the health industry, there's great need to seek professionals in handling the healthcare technologies.

Who will do the work better than he whom the cap fits?

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