Hospital Equipment of Karelia
Funded by Euregio Karelia Neighbourhood Programme 2001-2006

Objective of the project

Based on previous preliminary surveys, there was a lack of all kinds of hospital equipment and aid appliances for the disabled in the Republic of Karelia. Finnish hospitals and facilities, on the other hand, continuously renew their equipment, and most of these would be usable after repair and service. However, the equipment taken out of use had been stored and was awaiting scrapping. The intention of the project was to establish repair workshops in two work and recycling centres. The required workforce would be recruited from long-term unemployed people and others that were otherwise considered as difficult to employ. The repaired equipment would be transported monthly across the border.

Main activities

• to establish repair workshops in two work and recycling centres repairing hospital equipment • transportation of the repaired equipment to the Republic of Karelia.

Achievements

The project established new workshops repairing hospital equipment and aid appliances for the disabled in Ekosiili and EkoKuopio. Altogether 24 lorry and 8 van loads of hospital equipment and aid appliances were collected, repaired and transported to the Republic of Karelia. The Finnish hospitals got an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way to get rid of their used equipment, and the hospitals of the Republic of Karelia got badly needed hospital equipment and aid appliances. The project drafted a registry about the Finnish donor hospitals and the hospitals in the Republic of Karelia receiving equipment, to be used by various organisations.