1.(a) (b) (i) (ii) (iii)
There is currently no regulation, which requires the phasing-out of all defibrillators and replacing them with AEDs. The Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are the recommended cardiac resuscitation equipment in areas where there is high possibility of witnessed cardiac arrest and can be used by a trained lay rescuer. That is why the department is ensuring that they are acquired for clinics and identified areas in hospitals. However, defibrillators continue to be the preferred cardiac resuscitation equipment in other medical sections in hospitals as they offer more options including pacing and pulse monitoring.
The department acknowledges the proven advantages of using Biphasic defibrillators over monophasic defibrillators and therefore continue to replace monophasic defibrillators with biphasic defibrillators, which provide results with less energy and are more efficient. The department has also ensured that those life support equipment are available on transversal contracts (RT4 and RT2) through National Treasury to provide end-users easy access to acquire. I.e. AEDs and Biphasic defibrillators (with AED mode).
(2) Application specialist training is arranged for every life-support equipment procured by the department therefore employees are trained on the current biphasic defibrillators in hospitals.
END.