With the rapidly evolving global context, challenges facing public health such as accessibility, high cost of healthcare and delayed responsiveness of the healthcare systems are arguably systematic and governance related. This neither can be addressed by a single skill set, nor is it the responsibility of a single profession. Solutions would emerge from interdisciplinary collaboration and effort. The recent Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator at Duke (SEAD) Summit on the 3-5th April, 2013 at Duke University NC, was attempting to address just that. SEAD is a forum that allows collaborated efforts from Duke University, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN), while mobilizing support from policymakers, innovators, investors and academicians to develop capacity and scale up innovations.
This Failure of existing systems to deliver for their populations has created a space for social entrepreneurs and health think-tanks such as Heartfile to come up with innovated solutions for the health market. Innovations which not only are providing low cost and high efficiency solutions but also have the capacity to scale up. The award-winning Heartfile Health Financing program was selected in the first cohort of programs by the SEAD to achieve certain objectives in the said three year commitment. These objectives include designing business models and scaling strategies that are effective and tailored to the context of operations. Another objective of this forum is to provide an opportunity for innovators to meet and collaborate with investors to bridge their resource gap, not only in financial terms but also in areas of knowledge sharing, capacity building and strategic direction. This would also serve as a repository for the lessons learned, the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of social and health innovations, where other organizations can have processes more refined and streamlined from the start could avoid potential potholes.
This summit was followed by the 2nd International Partnership for Healthcare Delivery (IPIHD) conference on the 7TH-8TH April in Washington D.C. where Heartfile was invited to present its unique healthcare financing model. The initiation of IPIHD was catalyzed by the World Economic Forum and Mckinsey, aimed at establishing a network of innovators to share best practices, provide business support, help access resources and generate knowledge on health innovation for dissemination. The event was held along sides the World Healthcare Conference and provided this opportunity. These two events were perfect for collaboration and synergy for the program.
About Heartfile Health Financing
Heartfile Financing is a mhealth powered social protection system, a featured commitment of the Clinton Global Initiative. It is has three components, a health equity fund, a technology platform which integrates mhealth and a system of validating poverty and prioritizing patients. The system can be triggered by an SMS or a phone call which a doctor can send on behalf of a poor patient which lands to a registered hospital. Eligibility ascertainment is based on several factors including data from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and payments are made to a service provider on behalf of the patient.
This system allows patients to have ready financial access to health services, and avoids unnecessary delays in receiving treatment. The electronic record keeping and preconfigured rules guard against patronage, while the electronic workflow makes workers accountable. This use of technology ensures transparency. Real time updates and viewing of micro-transactions with personalized web accounts make this program ideal for donors. The program has within some years expanded to three cities with a catchment area of over 500kms. It aims to protect people from medical impoverishment and provide financial access the poorest of the poor.
It is only through synergy and partnerships that we can address the challenges that face global public health today, as the old African proverb goes,
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together..
For further information on the program, please click on the link below.
Ray of Hope
@Ali Butt,
Thank you for your comment. You are right, such steps are important not only for contribution to a global cause, but also in terms of representing the country. We hope to give you more good news from Heartfile in the given months.
Mr. Anis
I enjoyed reading your blog post. It is great to see such initiatives taking place in our country. Furthermore, participation in and recognition from such forums as you have mentioned is indeed a great step towards addressing challenges faced by global public health today.
interesting