Health technologies equip health-care providers with tools that are indispensable for effective and efficient prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation and attainment of internationally agreed health-related development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration.

(World Health Assembly, WHA 60.29)
 
Health technologies form the backbone of health services, yet the level of access to health technologies differs greatly between low income countries and high income countries. Some technologies are inherently safe, but the vast majority are not and therefore require systematically established quality assurance and quality control measures if undesired effects are to be avoided in their application. Even though most low income countries cannot afford the vast variety of health technologies, if they are carefully chosen, a country may still be able to offer its citizens a safe and reliable health service, even with limited resources.

(PAHO Strategic Plan 2008-2012)