Medical equipment is an expensive and often fragile cargo. Incorrect fastening, violation of transportation regulations or non-observance of loading and unloading techniques can lead to spoilage of this equipment, and as a result, considerable material losses. Medical equipment, like other goods, can be transported by sea, air and rail, and by road. In this article, the features of each of these types of transportation will be given, as well as the stages of carrying out the transportation.
To transport medical equipment, special requirements are also required. It is necessary to know all the exact parameters and characteristics of the cargo. Based on the characteristics of each cargo, the most suitable type of transportation must be selected. Another important factor is the distance to which the object will be moved. If we turn to the international transport, which, moreover, need to be implemented quickly, it is recommended to choose transportation by air. It is also possible to deliver cargo by rail, road and sea transport. The most affordable at the price is considered to be railway transport, especially this kind of transportation is recommended for large consignments of cargo. Water crafts can also transport large quantities of cargo. This is the next most cost-effective way of transportation. But the main feature and complexity of this method is terrain and high humidity, which is often unacceptable for the cargo. However, if the cargo does not require special conditions, it can often be transported by sea, and cargo move by water transport is quite profitable. But the most common and convenient mode of transport for the move of medical equipment is the moving in the car. When the equipment is delivered by car, it is possible to pick up the ideal vehicle. Take into account carrying capacity and capacity of transport. For professional moving companies, there is a wide fleet of vehicles that meets the requirements for the transportation of such goods. Moving equipment by a car is most often used when the distance is not more than 500 km.
In a car transportation there is one more feature – possibility of accompanying your goods. Medical cargoes sometimes require escort of traffic police or doctors, in view of the high cost of cargo or the urgency of its delivery. Medical equipment, this is a very special kind of cargo. Complex designs of high-tech equipment are precisely tuned and require super-coastal handling during transportation. It is necessary to choose a suitable type of packaging material, thanks to which the technique will be safe. Apparatus for artificial respiration, computed tomography devices, laser devices are very sensitive to shaking, temperature changes, precipitation and other conditions of cargo transportation. Because of this, you need to be especially careful about the transportation method and choose a method depending on the characteristics of each cargo. In extreme cases, rapid delivery of medical equipment is required. On how quickly it will be performed, the lives and health of people depend. For urgent deliveries of small-sized medical devices, air transport is used. Based on the above, we can conclude that the feature of logistics of medical goods is the strict observance of the rules of transportation and storage, as well as the high responsibility of the carrier. This is one of the most difficult types of goods to transport. Due to a number of features and specificity of each type of medical cargo, there are logistics companies engaged exclusively in the transport of medical goods, which once again proves how difficult and laborious the process is.
Basic stages of transportation
Transportation of medical equipment can be divided into five main stages:
- Packaging equipment;
- Loading in transport;
- Load fastening;
- Transportation;
- Unloading.
Packaging of medical equipment is the most important stage of transportation. There are many different devices and appliances that are sensitive to any mechanical influences. Therefore, the way and type of packaging depends on the degree of fragility of the equipment. With reliable and high-quality packaging, vibration and slight shaking during transportation are permissible without the danger of damage to the equipment.
Medical devices can have rather large overall dimensions, for example, a roentgen or tomography devices. These devices require a special technology of packaging and transportation, depending on the type of equipment. Virtually all medical equipment must be protected from moisture and temperature changes, so good ventilation should be ensured when packing, and prevent temperature changes.
The method of loading medical devices depends on the dimensions and fragility of the cargo, as well as on the type of transport. In any case, such equipment requires a very careful handling. In order to avoid mistakes during loading, the package must be left with a marking on which loaders can understand how this equipment can be loaded.
The choice of the kind of transport for the medical equipment moving depends on several factors – the place of delivery, the volume of the cargo, its characteristics, and urgency. It is necessary to unload such a cargo, as well as to load it, with special care and in accordance with the requirements for handling a particular type of equipment. Automobile transport is used to transport medical equipment for short distances (up to 700 km). For these purposes, special cars are used, equipped with body protection against vibration and shock. The use of cars is advantageous because it allows you to deliver medical equipment directly to the place of its use without the need for additional means of transportation. Large quantities of equipment transported from abroad or for long distances within the country are most conveniently delivered by railway transport. First of all, it is good because it provides a high level of cargo safety – the cars are protected from the negative impact of the environment, and are also less susceptible to shaking and mechanical damage. Also, freight transportation by a train differs in small cost. If it is necessary to deliver medical equipment from another continent, use sea or air transport. Transportation on ships is cheaper, but additionally requires the costs of handling and delivery of equipment to and from the port to the point of unloading. Transportation by air is more expensive, however, fast and reliable. Taking into consideration a huge cost of some medical devices, it is air transportation that is preferable.
Features of transportation
Features of the transport of medical equipment are determined by its type and purpose. X-rays, instruments for fluorography and ultrasound, various scanners and other electrical devices for medical purposes are very sensitive to moisture. Therefore, their transportation by sea is not allowed, and the packaging must provide the required level of humidity. Cardiopulmonary apparatuses, laboratory equipment, ECG monitors and many other devices are highly fragile. Therefore, they must be packaged appropriately and reliably secured in a container or body. Also, when transporting medical equipment which is sensitive to mechanical influences, it is required to comply with the recommended transportation speed and avoid sudden braking and abrupt corners (for road transport). At all stages of the transportation of medical equipment, increased requirements for cargo safety must be observed. Taking into account high cost of some devices and equipment, the savings in choosing a moving company are at least impractical.
List of documents for transportation of medical equipment
When transporting medical equipment, the person accompanying this consignment must have the following documents:
- Commodity bill for each type of equipment, or with a list of each type and indicating the number of pieces;
- For road transport, the driver must have a waybill;
- Documentation of equipment, which should include brief information about it and technical specifications;
- Documents confirming compliance of the equipment with the requirements of the country in which it will be implemented;
- When delivering medical equipment from abroad, appropriate customs declarations on fees, fees, taxes and other deductions are necessary.