KSE Medical

KSE Medicalare also based in Hanoi and work in “appropriate technology medicine”.

Like MTTS, they focus on newborns and infants, are based in Vietnam but looking to expand in the region. And like MTTS they produce the following equipment:

1.    CPAP

2.    Phototherapy

3.    Infant Warmer

4.    OPTIMA Hand Sanitizer

5.    Infant bed

In addition, they also manufacture hand dryers.

KSE Medical provides “technical services” such as custom design and installation at “low cost”. They offer preventive maintenance and a full service contract (1 year +). All products have a one year warranty and replacement parts are available. Teaching and training are also provided but no more details on this from their website.

They have delivered CPAP, warmers and phototherapy all over Vietnam for the BOL program.

The site interestingly has a 2003 endorsement from the National Hosptial of Paediatrics in Hanoi who stated that the “working mechanism is safe, simple with high reliability (such as temperature, pressure.. etc). We have not seen any case of complication (side-effect) after using this system such as pneumothorax, heamodymic disaster...etc)… (also the design was) neat, orderly… portable and easy to transport. It is designed for low pressure oxygen, and is easily used at clinics which do not have standard oxygen and air pressure system. … the material to make (the CPAP) is mostly local so it´s price  (US$1,500)  is much cheaper than the imported CPAP system  (about US$8,000), and it is also easy to fix, repair and do maintenance as well.”

Other endorsements are from 2004 - Harvard Business School and University of California.

It sounds like Kirk Evans did the R&D on the original CPAP now used by BOL – can anyone correct me on that?

When KSE say they ‘delivered’ CPAP, does that mean put it in a lorry and take it there or something else?

• Sustainability for KSE Medical, MTTS and BOL is in creating a piece of equipment that is as safe and effective as more expensive counterparts but at a fraction of the price.
• Sustainability fpr these three are in equipment being durable, having easily accessible parts and a long shelf life in the tropics.
• Sustainabilty also seems to be in training personnel to use equipment and in ongoing support. However, this kind of support needs to be as long as the equipment is working because staff come and go and don't always cascade their understanding to others...