Healthcare Technologies

Call for Abstracts: Appropriate Healthcare Technologies for Low‑Resource Settings (AHT 2026)

Does the same technology meet healthcare needs regardless of context or economic environment?

Be part of the conversation

If you are developing, implementing or evaluating healthcare technologies for low‑resource settings — or learning through experience what does not work — we strongly encourage you to submit an abstract and contribute to this important global discussion.

Together, we can help shape healthcare technologies that are not only innovative, but truly appropriate for the contexts where they are most needed.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) invites abstract submissions for Appropriate Healthcare Technologies for Low‑Resource Settings (AHT 2026) — a virtual event focused on the design, innovation and engineering of healthcare technologies that genuinely work in low‑resource environments.

Why submit an abstract?

Healthcare delivery in low‑resource settings faces complex and interconnected challenges — from fragile infrastructure and limited funding to workforce shortages and political instability. At AHT 2026, we aim to highlight appropriate technological solutions that respond to these realities, rather than replicate models from high‑income settings without adaptation.

We particularly welcome:

• Innovative engineering and design solutions
• Real‑world case studies from the field
• Honest reflections on challenges, limitations, and even failures, which can be just as valuable as success stories in shaping future work

Topics of interest

Abstracts are welcomed on a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to):

• Innovative design of appropriate healthcare technology (AHT) devices
• Digital health, including m‑health and e‑health
• Artificial intelligence and medical informatics
• Medical and clinical laboratory technologies
• Local manufacture of medical and laboratory devices
• Hospital Technology Management (HTM)
• Training and skills development
• Appropriate and ethical equipment donation programmes
• Alternative and sustainable energy sources
• Patient transport solutions for hospitals and health centres
• Linking healthcare facilities in high‑income countries with low‑resource settings
• Oxygen monitoring and supply
• Healthcare technology challenges in conflict or humanitarian settings

Scope of submissions

Abstracts should consider the real‑world conditions faced when delivering healthcare in low‑resource environments. Factors that may negatively impact healthcare provision include:

• Limited financial resources, facilities and infrastructure
• Insufficient or inadequately trained healthcare and technical staff
• Lack of test equipment, manuals, consumables and spare parts
• Inappropriate or unsupported equipment donations
• High proportions of healthcare equipment out of service
• Unreliable power and water supply
• Political instability, conflict or war

The overarching need remains clear: appropriate, affordable, sustainable and quality healthcare technologies, capable of supporting care in both routine and emergency situations.

Event format

AHT 2026 will be delivered as a series of live webinar sessions, featuring:

• Speakers selected from accepted abstracts
• A keynote speaker for each session
• A moderator from the AHT Committee and/or the IET Healthcare Technologies Committee

Authors whose abstracts are accepted will be invited to present during one of the live webinar sessions taking place on 18 November 2026.

Submission details and key dates

• Abstract length: Maximum 500 words
• Submission method: Email your abstract to Lynsay Callaghan lcallaghan@theiet.org

Important dates

• Call for Abstracts opens: Friday 24 May 2024, 09:00 (UTC+1)
• Call for Abstracts closes: Thursday 14 August 2026, 17:00 (UTC+1)
• Authors notified of outcome: 24 September 2026, by 17:00 (UTC+1)
• Live webinar sessions: 18 November 2026

Terms and conditions

Please read and accept the Terms and Conditions before applying.

PDF

Rebuilding the TN

We are in the process of rescoping the IET Healthcare Technologies Technical Network, so please bear with us during this exciting transformation.

Once we have more information, we will post here looking for input from our members and volunteers to help us with this.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our volunteering team.

Committee List

Contact us: HealthcareTechnology-TPN@ietvolunteer.org 

Biomedical Engineering

The Joint Biomedical Steering Group currently comprises of representatives from the IET, IMechE, IPEM, IOP, IOM3, BCS, FCI and the BioMedEng Association. It strives to provide a forum for member driven communities in Biomedical Engineering in the UK to come together to highlight upcoming events, make sure these are cross-advertised when suitable, and capitalise on cross discipline opportunities.