Philanthropy, innovation and public health

Imagine an ‘x-prize’ for improving maternal health, or ‘grand challenge prize’ that focuses on improving child health.

Pakistan’s record in maternal and child health is not particularly exemplary. Recent reports indicate that Pakistan has the highest infant mortality rate in the world. Maternal mortality rates are also among the highest globally. Just as healthier and stable families are the backbone of a prosperous society, poor maternal and child health indicators are associated with long-term socioeconomic problems with lasting consequences. Yet, improving maternal and child health is easier said than done. Our national security situation does not make it easier for the brave men and women working in the field to change this course. This is all the more reason for us to take a hard look at this problem and think of innovative ways to change the status quo.

Our public health system is burdened by many challenges associated with poor resources, security and an exponential growth in population. But it is also stifled by a dependence on products and services that are procured from abroad. While some interventions are locally produced, many are imported and hence, dependent on the supply chain woes. Needless to say, not everything that is made elsewhere is optimised for our unique sociocultural and geographic challenges. The resolution of this challenge lies squarely on institutions, public and private, to meet this gap in technologies and services for some of the most pressing health challenges facing the country. There is some effort, but certainly not enough, as indicated by our current standing, to create innovative solutions. If one visits with the engineers and scientists in our academic institutions, rarely does one find someone who is developing technologies or solutions to improve public health of the most vulnerable. Instead, we are enamoured by flashy titles and courses that are neither fundamental, nor substantive or relevant. A national effort to improve our health outcomes cannot come from the government alone, although government has a major role to play. The efforts also need to come from institutions and individuals, both within and outside the academic community.

In my discussions with colleagues in academia and elsewhere, I have heard two major reasons why there is little effort from their part. First is the lack of awareness. This is not a problem that cannot be solved. In this regard, the government and individuals who do have the knowledge need to educate, motivate and inspire people to solve the longstanding challenges of our public health. If we don’t recognise and identify our problems and don’t do something about them, who will? Second, they say, is the lack of resources. Here there are two things that are worth mentioning. First, research-funding organisations need to carve out special programmes that are dedicated to solving our public health challenges and making sure that anyone, regardless of his or her background, with a good idea is able to contribute. Second, individuals who are eager to contribute to society, and we have many who give plenty of charity, can be mobilised to tackle. Imagine an ‘x-prize’ for improving maternal health, or a ‘grand challenge prize’ (similar to the one run by the Gates Foundation) that focuses on improving child health in Pakistan. Another organisation, Grand Challenges Canada, has also created a very robust model of how to create and sustain innovation for high impact healthcare challenges in developing countries. Why can’t we do it for our own people? There are people, many people, who are ready to empty their pockets for a good cause. What is needed is to ensure that there is a clear goal, transparency and dedication to meet that lofty goal. With 180 million people and counting, there is always a market for innovative solutions. Think cell phones and the fact that we have over a 100 million subscribers. Much more can be done in the health sector as well.

The love for people does not manifest itself only in empty slogans and high-spirited speeches, but also in action and a resolve to solve the problems that afflict them. Saving a mother and a baby, who otherwise would have died, through ingenuity, innovation and creativity can play a major role in creating a just, stable and a loving society.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2014.

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