International Finance Corporation, World Bank & TechEmerge innovations in Health

If you have been following my posts, you know that in 2016 IFC launched a unique health innovations acceleration program called "TechEmerge". It is a World Bank initiative to Accelerate the Adoption of Health Technology Innovations in Emerging Markets. The first program took place in India, Brazil and will be launched later this year in East Africa.

I worked as a consultant and Advisor to the program to shortlist innovations, review pilot proposals, bring hospitals onboard and launch pilot projects. I also held webinars and mentoring sessions with startups to help them understand business models, market opportunities and challenges. You can see some info sessions on this link: https://www.slideshare.net/health2dev/techemerge-webinar-understanding-the-basics-healthtech-in-india

Innovations that caught my attention recently-#Healthtech

No. 1- Lyme bacteria use the same technique as White Blood Cells to navigate and move in blood vessels In an interesting case of convergent evolution Lyme bacteria use the same technique as White Blood Cells to navigate and move in blood vessels.To zip through the bloodstream and spread infection throughout the body, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease take a cue from the white blood cells trying to attack them. Both use specialized bonds to stick to the cells lining blood vessels and move along at their own pace, biologist Tara Moriarty and colleagues report September 6 in Cell Reports. “It’s really an amazing case of convergent evolution,” says Wendy Thomas, a biologist at the University of Washington in Seattle who wasn’t part of the study. “There’s little structural similarity between the molecules involved in these behaviors, and yet their behavior is the same.” No.2- Wearable Robot for people who lost their hand function This wearable robot helps disabled patients re...

PDAs in Healthcare -Passe or in Vogue

The PDA is a very small and portable, handheld computer, which has many more functions than a calculator, and the capacity to store information much like a Personal Computer (PC). Basic functionality available on most PDAs includes an address book, schedule, calendar, note pad, and e-mail. The PDA is convenient to use in clinical and field situations for quick data management, and the information can be synchronized with a PC . By means of a wireless network, information can be exchanged anytime from anywhere to and from a PDA, and the network will provide immediate access to all kinds of necessary clinical and administrative data . Health care professionals need access to information several times a day, and the PDA has the potential to provide this. For the PDA, there are numerous documents and medical software applications available, with a wide variation in quality. A large number of medical students take advantage of the PDA for educational purposes and patient care with great sa...

A New Dawn in Healthcare: How AI and LLMs Are Transforming Patient Care – A Story of Hope and Healing

It was a crisp autumn morning when John, a 45-year-old father of two, first felt the sharp pain in his chest. Like many, he brushed it off as stress or indigestion. But when the pain persisted, his wife, Sarah, insisted he see a doctor. Little did John know that this visit would mark the beginning of a transformative journey—one that would redefine his understanding of healthcare and how technology could seamlessly blend into the patient experience. John’s story is not unique. Millions of patients navigate the labyrinth of healthcare systems every day, often feeling lost, overwhelmed, and underserved. But John’s experience was different. It was a glimpse into a new era of healthcare delivery, powered by Large Language Models (LLMs), generative AI, and advanced analytics—a world where technology works silently in the background, guiding every step of the care process with precision, empathy, and efficiency. The First Encounter: A Seamless Entry into Care When John walked into his ...

Data Revolution in Healthcare and Lifesciences Industry

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