How might we use #tech4good to build back better health systems and services?

Supported by UNDP BPPS | UNDP Chief Digital Office | Government of Japan

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Why

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The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses and gaps in health systems which have exacerbated inequities in health and development worldwide. Several countries still have very low vaccination rates and as the vaccine supply increases worldwide, the last mile delivery challenge still exists. In the longer term, we want to ensure that health systems are more resilient. Digital health solutions will be critical in the global efforts to recover from COVID and prepare for future pandemics. Our team is looking to accelerate the use of digital technologies like AI, big data analytics, blockchain, IOT, cloud computing, and others, that can have significant applications across the health sector value chain that can also enable home-based care at affordable costs with improved outcomes.

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The #Health Challenge

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The achievement of universal health coverage of quality, accessible, and affordable health services is primarily dependent on a country’s functioning and robust health system. Digital health provides concrete opportunities to achieve the SDG-3 goals and tackle health system challenges, with a potential to enhance the coverage and equitable access to quality essential health services, including those at the last mile. Digital health interventions may be used, for example, to increase health workers’ capacity, giving them more immediate access to clinical protocols or allow more people to access medical services through telemedicine consultations. Digitized medical-commodity supply chains can optimize pipelines and procurements leading to increased availability of medicines and vaccines, reduce waste and corruption, and yield significant cost savings overall.

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The #Health Challenge calls for proven, ‘ready-to-scale’ digital solutions that UNDP can use to strengthen public health systems and improve service delivery to the communities, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations. Solutions should answer the broad question: How might we use#tech4good to build back better health systems and services?

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Types of digital solutions we are looking for:

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• Technology products that work in low-resource settings with poor digital infrastructure.
• ‘Out of the box’ digital solutions for home-based health care and patient monitoring through telehealth.
• Digital tools for tracking vaccines, beneficiaries, coverage, and waste – including GS1 standards.
• Third-party applications that can plug in with existing digital health platforms in various country context. These could include solutions that promote or drive interoperability between existing digital health products or services.
• Digital communication tools to address misinformation around the COVID-19 virus and vaccines.
• Digital tools that can be used by governments to enhance the capacity and skills of its health workforce and improve health management information systems at sub-district levels – preferably tools that allow for real time data analysis and decision making.

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Learn more about the selection criteria, timeline, eligibility and application process on our FAQ here.

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Get started with the FAQ & apply!

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