The BBC has a fascinating story about how new technologies are helping to provide cost effective, accessible medical treatment to people in developing countries. The story focuses on Uganda and it describes how a British doctor and his team have created a community hospital that cares for tens of thousands of people, many of whom suffer from HIV/AIDS and related illnesses.
The hospital is near on the edge of the rain forest in an area without paved roads or public transporation. In the past, it took hours for patients to walk to the clinic for treatment. If they were able to travel they would arrive at a clinic that had limited capabilities to sample blood and provide patients with information about their levels of white blood cells -- important for HIV/AIDS patients. Monitoring patient's health was difficult which made it difficult to provide effective treatment.
So the doctor and his team adopted a different strategy. They get into a four-wheel drive community ambulance and take along a "completely mobile testing unit" to test and monitor their patients. The product the doctor takes along is called PointCare NOW. It's a small, portable machine that samples blood and provides some test results in as little as 8 minutes. It has specifically been designed to withstand high heat and to tolerate travel in tough conditions.
PointCare NOW is produced by Point Care Technologies. The company's strategy is to bring innovative technologies as close to the point-of-care of patients in the developing world as possible. This might mean informal settlements in urban areas or remote villages in rural locations. The focus is on developing affordable, labor-saving devices that have a long-shelf life and that provide a number of diagnostic functions--a wonderful example of social entrepreneurship.
Successfully meeting the substantial health care needs of the world's poor is an enormous challenge. Discovering a company that is helping to meet these needs is an unexpected surprise--an example of how some businesses are effectively serving the Bottom Billion.
The hospital is near on the edge of the rain forest in an area without paved roads or public transporation. In the past, it took hours for patients to walk to the clinic for treatment. If they were able to travel they would arrive at a clinic that had limited capabilities to sample blood and provide patients with information about their levels of white blood cells -- important for HIV/AIDS patients. Monitoring patient's health was difficult which made it difficult to provide effective treatment.
So the doctor and his team adopted a different strategy. They get into a four-wheel drive community ambulance and take along a "completely mobile testing unit" to test and monitor their patients. The product the doctor takes along is called PointCare NOW. It's a small, portable machine that samples blood and provides some test results in as little as 8 minutes. It has specifically been designed to withstand high heat and to tolerate travel in tough conditions.
PointCare NOW is produced by Point Care Technologies. The company's strategy is to bring innovative technologies as close to the point-of-care of patients in the developing world as possible. This might mean informal settlements in urban areas or remote villages in rural locations. The focus is on developing affordable, labor-saving devices that have a long-shelf life and that provide a number of diagnostic functions--a wonderful example of social entrepreneurship.
Successfully meeting the substantial health care needs of the world's poor is an enormous challenge. Discovering a company that is helping to meet these needs is an unexpected surprise--an example of how some businesses are effectively serving the Bottom Billion.
- Karol
(photo copyrighted to BBC - "The hospital's community team takes HIV testing kits out to remote villages")
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