Honourable Chair, Distinguished Delegates,

We fully align with the Draft strategy on Economics of health for all, which recognizes that health systems are not merely costs, but essential investments for sustainable and equitable development. We wish to highlight the importance of investing in health technology management as a critical lever to strengthen health system efficiency, optimize resource use, and ensure that investments in medical equipment deliver long-term value.

When a medical device fails, it results in significant economic losses, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Investing in preventive maintenance through the training and recruitment of biomedical technicians reduces the need for costly corrective maintenance, minimizes device downtime, and generates measurable returns.

Biomedical engineers play a pivotal role at the intersection of health and economic decision-making, by advising hospital managers and health authorities on the design and implementation of medical device purchasing and maintenance policies. For instance, they elaborate technical specifications -avoiding both low-end and oversized devices-, and ensure standardization of equipment fleets leading to economies of scale.

Investing in maintenance and biomedical professions is essential to achieve resilient health systems. It does not only save costs, it ensures reliability and longevity of medical devices, including diagnostic capacity, ultimately improving patient care and hospital operations. Let us spread together the culture of biomedical maintenance, for the benefit of health for all.

Thank you.