Biomedical Innovations for Diagnostic Devices in Madagascar: An Engineering Perspective

Diagnostic devices in Madagascar face significant challenges due to resource limitations, particularly in remote areas where access to medical facilities and trained personnel is scarce. The research methodology involves a systematic review of existing literature and expert consultations to identify suitable technological solutions. A prototype development process was conducted with input from local stakeholders. Among the reviewed diagnostic devices, Urine Analyser X showed promise for resource-limited settings in Madagascar due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of operation under limited power supply conditions (cost: $50 per device; reliability: 92% ± 3%). The findings suggest that incorporating locally available resources can significantly enhance the feasibility and adoption of these diagnostic devices in remote areas. Further field testing should be conducted to validate the performance under real-world conditions, with a focus on affordability for local health centers. Training programmes tailored to local contexts are recommended to ensure wide-scale implementation. The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.