Responding to maternal, neonatal and child health equipment needs in Kenya: a model for an innovation ecosystem leveraging on collaborations and partnerships

Abstract

BackgroundUp to 70% of medical devices in low-income and middle-income countries are partially or completely non-functional, impairing service provision and patient outcomes. In Sub-Saharan Africa, medical devices not designed for local conditions, lack of well-trained biomedical engineers and diverse donated equipment have led to poor maintenance and non-repair. The Maker Project’s aim was to test the effectiveness of an innovative partnership ecosystem network, the ‘Maker Hub’, in reducing gaps in the supply of essential medical devices for maternal, newborn and child health. This paper describes the first phase of the project, the building of the Maker Hub.MethodsKey activities in setting up the Maker Hub—a collaborative partnership between the University of Nairobi (UoN) and the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), catalysed by Concern Worldwide Kenya—are described using a product development partnership approach. Using a health systems approach, a needs assessment identified a medical equipment shortlist. Design thinking with a capacity building component was used by the UoN (innovators, public health specialists, engineers) working closely and with KNH nurses, physicians and biomedical engineers to develop the prototypes.ResultsTo date, four medical device prototypes have been developed. Two have been evaluated by the National Bureau of Standards and one has undergone clinical testing.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated an innovative partnership ecosystem that has developed medical devices that have undergone national standards evaluation and clinical testing, a first in Sub-Saharan Africa. Promoting a robust innovation ecosystem for medical equipment requires investment in building trust in the innovation ecosystem.

The RAIS Device for Global Surgery: Using a Participatory Design Approach to Navigate the Translational Pathway to Clinical Use

“…It required significant time and resource to implement effectively, with activities spanning identification of stakeholders prior to starting the project through to regular interaction to maintain engagement throughout the project. However, this investment proved invaluable in achieving these ambitions and ensuring longer-term viability for the system, resonating with similar findings in the literature [40] , [41] . From the outset, it underpinned an ethos of embedding stakeholders within the team, such that it was a case of ‘designing with’, rather than ‘designing for’ this group.…”

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“…Supply chain management is a critical component in ensuring availability of needed commodities such as dispersible Amoxicillin tablets, gentamicin and associated non-pharmaceutical goods such as syringes and needles. The accessibility, availability and effective utilization of essential medicines plays a critical role in delivery of quality health services [24]. To increase efficiency and reduce stock out, training providers on commodity/ logistics management and enhancing support supervision to support primary level health care providers on forecasting for IMNCI commodities among others will ensure timely/consistent procurement and distribution of antibiotics for SYI.…”

Ending Neonatal Deaths From Hypothermia in Sub-Saharan Africa: Call for Essential Technologies Tailored to the Context

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