Science and Technology Studies Medical Technology Transfer: Non-Governmental Organizations and Sustainable Development Logan D. A. Williams, MS/PhD student

Science and TechnologyStudies

Medical Technology Transfer:Non-Governmental Organizations

and Sustainable DevelopmentLogan D. A. Williams,

MS/PhD student

April 28, 2008

STS Research Design


Williams “ “Medical Technology Transfer…” Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Outline• Literature Review• Background• Field Sites• Research Questions• Interview Questions• Intellectual Merit & Broader Significance• Deliverables• Summary



• Developmentalism– Industrial development & Restrict imports

• Neoliberalism– export oriented & post-Fordist manufacturing– Privatization of public services

• Appropriate Technology– Critique 1: Failure of Green Revolution– Critique 2: Substandard Equipment

Lit. Review: Development & Neoliberalism



Lit. Review: Technology Transfer

• Classic Approach (Basalla)• Bi-directionality Thesis (Carney)• High-tech and Appropriate Technology

Circulation (Williams)– Cataracts & Intraocular lenses

• Fordist/post-Fordist export manufacturing • NGOs affiliated with (or responsible for) national Eye

programs



Background: Cataracts



Field Sites• Exemplar Case 1: Himalayan Cataract

Project , Fred Hollows Intraocular Laboratory, and Tilganga Eye Centre (Nepal)

• Exemplar Case 2: Project Impact, AuroLab, and Aravind Eye Hospital (India)

• Future iterations of this proposal will include additional sites, possibly Kenya and Tanzania



Research Questions1. What are the implications of ophthalmic

technology transfer for our understanding of appropriate technology, the bi-directionality thesis, and innovation in less developed countries?

2. What are the implications of ophthalmic technology transfer for our understanding of neoliberalism, NGOs, and development in less developed countries?



Stakeholder Questions• What are the differences among

centers that use ophthalmic technology in developing and in industrialized countries?

• Why have some centers become innovators?

• What role do NGOs play in the innovative centers?

• How does the focus on innovation interact with a public service mission?

Data Sources:• Government

Officials and Policy Documents

• NGO Executives• Ophthalmologists• Manufacturers• Eye Hospitals



Intellectual Merit

• Contribute to the understanding of appropriate technology by examining how high-technology is combined with the health-care needs of low-income countries

• Contribute to the understanding of neoliberalism and NGOs in developing countries by examining the conditions under which medical technology innovation occurs



Deliverables

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• Dissertation (2013)• Book (2017)• Presentations (2010

onward)• Theoretical framework

for NGOs interested in development through technology transfer



Summary• Research

– Ophthalmic Technology Transfer

• Field Sites for Interviews– Nepal & India

• Create– Theoretical framework for NGOs interested in

sustainable development through technology transfer



Any Questions?