Sudan and Ukraine receive majority of HSE surplus equipment

Sudan and Ukraine are the countries to which the HSE donated the most surplus equipment and supplies last year, this newspaper has been told.

In February, the HSE audit and risk committee was presented with the Donation of Medical Equipment and Supplies Annual Report 2023.

According to the minutes, the committee noted that the HSE donated 5,241,165 items in 2023, “with a commercial value of €2,480,109.”

A HSE spokesperson told this newspaper that in 2021, the Executive donated 1,630,530 items with a value of €10,876,279. In 2022, it donated 5,241,165 items with a value of €9,184,929.

“In 2023, the HSE made most of its donations to Ukraine and Sudan,” the spokesperson told the Medical Independent.

“In 2023, donations consisted of decommissioned equipment, such as ambulances and beds no longer used in Ireland, but fully functional for use in the recipient country; medical supplies such as gauze and bandages and PPE [personal protective equipment].”

The spokesperson confirmed that 2023 was the first year in which an annual report was required under the HSE donations policy. The policy covers the donation of medical equipment and supplies to developing countries and other countries in crisis.

The policy, which came into effect in January 2023, is the HSE’s first to cover this area. The HSE has been regularly donating reusable medical equipment to Zambia since 2014.