PharmAccess

How can analogue health systems open up to transformation in Africa? About 15 African governments have come under increased citizen pressure in recent times because of the cost of living crisis - including food, health care and education. The lack of services has negatively impacted the quality of life and economic stability of the population, prompting demands for real systems change now more than ever. The waves of citizen pressure across Africa demonstrate that the continent has got two major game-changers for real transformation: its vibrant youth and digital technology. With over 60% of the population under 25, these young minds are ready to shake things up. Digitalisation is also supercharging activism and inclusion for change. PharmAccess was a co-organizer of the 3rd African Digital Health Summit in Lagos. Young innovators across Africa interacted with care providers, patient groups, investors and advocates on fostering solutions to drive change in health in Africa. It was not an event of big talks, but rather implementers sharing learnings to build on their efforts for healthcare transformation. Here are some learnings from the summit: •Activism that works makes policy makers uncomfortable to ignore evidence by engaging them with models that deliver better value. •Digital literacy, where policy makers learn from innovators, and allow experiences from innovators to guide policies can foster a culture of collaboration & adoption •Digital identification is key to inclusion by providing opportunities to those who can be recognised. Investments in digital identification are a cost-saver even in poorer settings because it ensures better targeting of services. •Regulatory sandboxes that allow for experimenting with new digital solutions for controlled testing & adaptation is critical in healthcare. Fintech succeeded in Africa because policy makers did not stand in the way of innovators. •The primary value of patients groups lies in the social support that they provide for each other. When the social support is strong, the groups can facilitate adherence to treatment and become better advocates. Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS) PharmAccess Patients Organisation of Nigeria eHealth Africa National Identification Authority Chika Offor Niyi Osamiluyi Vaccine Network for Disease Control DTH-Lab Team

“In an era of evidence-informed medicine, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) is now being acclaimed as a game-changer.” This said Dr Peter Yeboah – executive director of CHAG – to association members at a meeting where they pledged to fully adopt the #SafeCare quality improvement methodology. Sponsored by The Helmsley Charitable Trust, this project entails CHAG members incorporating the cost of quality assessments and training in their annual budgets. Next up is expanding the culture of quality to the Ghana Health Service (GHS). Whereas CHAG encompasses nearly 400 healthcare facilities country-wide, the GHS operates 10,000! “The Ghana Ministry of Health has seen the change that CHAG has birthed because it has heightened the need for quality,” said our country director in Ghana, Maxwell Antwi. What the Joy News report for more: https://lnkd.in/dX_K7PuU James Duah Bonifacia Agyei Roelinde Bakker Aafke de Graaff

Last week I visited CURE International Children’s Hospital Ethiopia and met Adey Abate, Executive Director. I congratulated CURE Ethiopia on its recent certification of #SafeCare Level 5, the highest level. After the first SafeCare assessment in 2022, the hospital had a SafeCare level 4. I ask her, what is your experience working with SafeCare? Adey says: “In the beginning quality is overwhelming. The biggest change is attitude. We now have a same way of thinking in how we do things. SafeCare helped us to set goals and standardize our way of working. SafeCare can work in this environment. You can get where you can get with SafeCare stepwise approach. We made it fun with internal awards for team champions’. We discussed the importance of Quality Care and Patient Safety in healthcare, and the role #SafeCare can play in expanding its presence in Ethiopia. CURE International currently works with SafeCare in 8 hospitals in 8 countries: Kenya, Uganda, Niger, Philippines, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Malawi. CURE is committed to creating positive impact in communities as quality save lives and lead to better health outcomes.

Last week PharmAccess Nigeria was privileged to co-host a workshop in Lagos, as a consortium partner of Digital Transformations for Health Lab, at the African Digital Health Summit 2024. Thirty-five young people under the age of 30 joined the workshop and agreed on core values and key features to be included in digital-first health systems in Nigeria and across Africa. The findings of this workshop will be incorporated into the blueprint for digital-first health systems. Thank you all for participating and your inspiration! Njide Ndili

📣 Digital Transformations for Health Lab and Transform Health are hosting a panel discussion, titled “Maximizing the Benefits of Health Data: Advancing a Value-Based Approach to Governance and Robust Legislation.” during the Africa Digital Health Summit 2024! 🗓 Date: 27June 2024 📍 Location: In person or online 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/dJQzA3Z4 This panel will discuss existing global and regional efforts to strengthen #healthdatagovernance, spotlighting the Africa CDC's Flagship Initiative. This initiative aims to develop and endorse an African Common Position on Health Data Governance, building consensus around the core elements and legislative guidance to strengthen national frameworks, recognising the critical importance of strengthening health data governance for improved health outcomes and UHC. Meet Our Diverse Panelists: ◼ Carlos Yerena, Director of Partnership and Growth, Reach Digital Health ◼ Dr. Anthony Adoghe, Deputy Director ICT, Federal Ministry of Health ◼ Tomiwa Akinsanya, Project Coordinator, Digital Transformations for Health Lab ◼ Nnenna Nwakanma,Transform Health The panel will be moderated by Njide Ndili, Country Director at PharmAccess and Founding Member of Digital Transformations for Health Lab. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening the governance of health data and the necessary steps to implement a value-based approach towards this in the African region. #HealthForAll #ADHS #ADHS2024

Connecting with fellow healthtechnerds at HLTH europe and speaking about the power of smart, ethical use of patient centric data to create better healthoutcomes and smarter use of healthcare financing. And more importantly, how the real transformation in the healthsector comes from where it is needed most, sub saharan africa! PharmAccess Jasper Klapwijk CarePay International #MSDforMothers

Imagine governments could stretch their health budgets by only paying when their citizens are successfully treated. This is the aim of innovative financing methods like outcomes-based financing. PharmAccess and the Joep Lange Institute demonstrated the feasibility of this method in a study documenting the 96% cure rate achieved for hepatitis C patients in Cameroon. (Find it online: https://lnkd.in/dZRBzR_k) Today, our CEO Nicole Spieker will introduce a discussion with people involved in outcomes-based financing in the health sector and moderated by john fairhurst, head of private sector engagement at The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The panellists are: 🗣️ Jane Newman: international director at Social Finance 🗣️ Fareed Abdullah: director of the office of AIDS and TB research at the South African Medical Research Council 🗣️ Dr. Yaw Opoku-Boateng: deputy director of PharmAccess partner the National Health Insurance Authority of Ghana. 🗣️ Dia Martin, CFA: managing director of the social enterprise financing team at the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation 🗣️ Sietse Wouters: program director of innovative finance at the UBS Optimus Foundation The Brookings Institution is hosting the webinar, sponsored by Achmea. Register now to take part! 📅 Date: Today, Tue 18 June ⏰ Time: 15:00-16:15 CEST (UTC+2) 👉 Register: https://lnkd.in/dpYVNcyt

PharmAccess teams are rooted in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania where we work to strengthen health systems. Our Dutch colleagues therefore jumped at the chance to hear first-hand from the people reforming #Zanzibar’s health ecosystem. The islands’ minister of health, Nassor Ahmed Mazrui, director of preventive services, Dr Salim Slim, and a special assistant passed through Amsterdam on the way back from a conference. Dr Slim summarized Zanzibar’s progress, mostly conducted in partnership with PharmAccess. These include: 📋 Completing a socio-economic survey to find out how many Zanzibari couldn't afford health insurance, 🪪 Issuing citizens with digital health identification cards, 🏥 Ensuring health facilities measure and improve quality of care using #SafeCare, 📈 Visualizing health data on digital dashboards proved to decision-makers, 🫂 Running support groups for people with diabetes and hypertension. The next big step is launching Zanzibar’s Health Equity Fund which will cover the health insurance premium of people who earn too little to pay for it themselves. “As we are moving forward, we need a holding hand to cross the bridge, but once we’re on the other side the government will be able to sustain the gain,” Dr Slim said. “We must take a leap of faith – because public health cannot wait.” Salim SLIM (DrPH,MPH,MSc, BSc -Hons) Heri Marwa Faiza Abbas Zamaradi Mbega Kwasi Boahene Aafke de Graaff

Putting patients at the centre is a key to ensure continuous care for patients with Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and eventually better treatment outcome. Today I had an opportunity to accompany Hon. Minister Mazrui in his visit to Community based, NCD patient groups at Koani area in Zanzibar. I was very impressed on howmpatients are empowered to take care of their own health and how they own the whole process of care. Initiatives like these should be supported to reach more people in Tanzania. Ntuli Kapologwe nassor mazrui Ummy Mwalimu PharmAccess PharmAccess Tanzania Sanofi Joseph Muga Jebson Zingwari

Leapfrog to Value and Percept have launched a Maternity Playbook to help embed compassion, quality, and value into every aspect of maternal and newborn care. The playbook incorporates lessons from our own #MomCare program that stimulates safe and cost-effective pregnancy journeys. It intends to unite three critical movements within maternal and neonatal health:   1️⃣ A technocratic movement to improve the quality of care 2️⃣ A rights-based movement calling for respectful care 3️⃣ A strategic movement to improve value-for-money   The playbook aims to provide evidence of the transformative impact of compassionate and high-quality maternal and neonatal health models by drawing on clear frameworks, practical case studies, and insights from different settings.   🔗Download the Maternity Playbook and share your thoughts: https://lnkd.in/e53UWXTy   #MaternalHealth #CompassionateCare #ValueBasedCare