Schmidt Georg
Alfred Nobel Open Business School, Hong Kong SAR, China.
J Emerg Manag. 2016 Nov/Dec;14(6):413-421. doi: 10.5055/jem.2016.0305.
Today, healthcare facilities are highly dependent on the private sector to keep their medical equipment functioning. Moreover, private sector involvement becomes particularly important for the supply of spare parts and consumables. However, in times of armed conflict, the capacity of the corporate world appears to be seriously hindered. Subsequently, this study researches the influence of armed conflict on the private medical equipment sector.
This study follows a qualitative approach by conducting 19 interviews with representatives of the corporate world in an active conflict zone. A semistructured interview guide, consisting of 10 questions, was used to examine the constraints of this sector.
The results reveal that the lack of skilled personnel, complicated importation procedures, and a decrease in financial capacity are the major constraints faced by private companies dealing in medical equipment in conflict zones.
Even when no official sanctions and embargoes for medical items exist, constraints for trading medical equipment are clearly recognizable. Countries at war would benefit from a centralized structure that deals with the importation procedures for medical items, to assist local companies in their purchasing procedures. A high degree of adaption is needed to continue operating, despite the emerging constraints of armed conflict. Future studies might research the constraints for manufacturers outside the conflict to export medical items to the country of war.
如今，医疗机构高度依赖私营部门来维持其医疗设备的正常运行。此外，私营部门在零部件和耗材供应方面的参与尤为重要。然而，在武装冲突时期，企业界的能力似乎受到严重阻碍。随后，本研究探讨武装冲突对私营医疗设备部门的影响。
本研究采用定性研究方法，对活跃冲突地区的企业界代表进行了19次访谈。使用了一份包含10个问题的半结构化访谈指南来考察该部门面临的制约因素。
结果显示，缺乏技术人员、复杂的进口程序以及财务能力下降是冲突地区从事医疗设备业务的私营公司面临的主要制约因素。
即使不存在针对医疗用品的官方制裁和禁运，医疗设备贸易的制约因素也清晰可见。处于战争状态的国家将受益于一个处理医疗用品进口程序的集中结构，以协助当地公司进行采购程序。尽管武装冲突带来了新的制约因素，但仍需要高度的适应性才能继续运营。未来的研究可能会探讨冲突地区以外的制造商向交战国家出口医疗用品所面临的制约因素。
