Chapter 3: How does it look like in many poor countries?

Ideal conditions as outlined in Chapters 1-2, are often taken for granted as being in place world wide, and it may be difficult to realize and accept that this is not always so. The situation for diagnostic imaging in a typical country with limited resources is often as follows:

i) Well-equipped, well-functioning, properly staffed and expensive private institutions – for the few.

ii) Poorly equipped, hardly functioning, and insufficiently staffed governmental institutions for the majority of the population.

iii) Close to nothing in place outside the capital and major cities.

In spite of a few high-standard hospitals and institutions the absolute majority of the population in most poor countries has no financial possibilities for being examined and treated in private, commercial institutions, and for all practical purposes they have nothing else than public, governmental hospitals often of questionable standard. Specifically for diagnostic imaging equipment and services, they are often sparse, malfunctioning, and incorrectly operated. Where available, long lasting breakdowns due to lack of proper maintenance and spare parts are common. In best case one single and rather basic X-ray machine may be available and functioning. Other imaging possibilities such as CT and ultrasound otherwise taken for granted are rarely found, and if so, very few may be able to operate and maintain them properly.