Medical technologies should be included in a set of goals created by the United Nations to guide governments in achieving sustainable development, according to the Global Diagnostic Imaging, Healthcare IT, and Radiation Therapy Trade Association (DITTA).
The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 goals that call on countries to "end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity." They went into effect in January 2016 and guide the UN Development Program, the group's initiative for eradicating poverty and reducing inequality.
However, the goals do not address access to medical technology, a point that drew the attention of DITTA. Medical technologies are critical in any health delivery system and help in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management, and control of diseases and maternal, newborn, and child health, the organization said.
"Medical technology is vital in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases," DITTA Vice President Nicole Denjoy said. "Without medical technologies, health systems would simply collapse. Therefore, it is key to use medical technologies in the implementation phase of Sustainable Development Goals."
