Innovate in global healthcare

HOW TO… Innovate in global healthcare

By Professor the Lord Ara Darzi, Co-Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI), Imperial College London

To innovate is to create something new, either entirely from scratch or by giving a new purpose to something that already exists.

In the world of healthcare, anything new – whether that’s a tool, concept or method – must be able to be implemented in a real-life setting. That means it needs to come with the right price tag, be tailored and acceptable to users, and fit in with care cultures.

Innovations are typically considered as new technologies. But in healthcare, innovations don’t only concern new devices or treatments; they also occur at the care pathway and systems level. Transformative innovation can be successful in bringing about deep system-level change. Both are equally important.

And for global health, shiny new tools aren’t always best – frugal innovations have proven their worth in many instances, such as a low-cost drill designed for DIY being successfully repurposed for orthopaedic surgery. This has benefitted healthcare in both the developed and developing world, and highlights how innovations are rarely born from nothing.

But in order for an idea to be successful, there are four critical elements that must be considered:

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If your idea is ticking these boxes, then the next stage is to formally appraise it by extensively reviewing relevant academic, policy and business literature. This will give a critical view of the current market, and the potential of your innovation within it.

Next, it is time to ask the experts. You should expose your idea to thought leaders from a wide variety of relevant settings, who will be able to provide invaluable insight and unbiased critique. They will advise whether there is a business model to develop your idea further, and of its feasibility and viability in the real world. Be ready to answer difficult questions – these will tease out whether your innovation truly has legs or will fall at the first hurdle.

You don’t need to win over everybody you speak with, but if you emerge through this stage with confidence and support for your idea, then it is time to seek funding. There is a vast array of possible sources, from seed funds to charities and philanthropists. You may even wish to begin your own venture as a startup. But crucially, you should seek partnerships in the areas that you wish to disseminate your innovation. Local partners can offer invaluable support in implementation, which is often not possible remotely, and can also provide access to local people and resources, saving time and money.

Is your proposal better than what is currently in existence? Is there already a viable product or service that could solve a particular issue, but it isn’t being used in the right manner?

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Finally, you must learn to let go. Innovation in global health takes time and effort, requiring both technical and business-savvy minds, alongside a firm grasp of the clinical need and political landscape. It is rare for one person to meet all of these criteria, while having the time and energy to go entirely solo. You need to galvanise others and build a team of experts and trust them to deliver. Together, you can shake more hands, travel further, network wider and transform faster.

If you would like to put these principles into practice, the IGHI runs an annual competition that invites all UK university students at any level to bring us their innovative ideas that could transform global health, with a prize of £10,000 for the winners to bring their concept to life.