Building needs-based healthcare technology competencies across Africa

Needs-based technology innovation for better health on the African continent requires that African countries develop a strong health technology research and development base, grounded in an understanding of the local context. The discipline of biomedical engineering plays an important developmental role in this regard, through research and training to advance health technology capacity. In recognition of this strategic imperative, the African Biomedical Engineering Consortium (ABEC) was founded in 2012, with the vision of building and nurturing the competencies required to support a robust and dynamic health technology sector.