New technologies have tremendous potential for improving healthcare in the Global South.

11/02/2017

eHEALTH: The Fondation Pierre Fabre announces a call for project proposals to identify and support initiatives with high potential for application in the Global South.

The call for project proposals, accepting submissions through 30 January 2018, is open to pilot or operational projects using information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve access to quality healthcare and medicines in the Global South. Project sponsors may submit their initiatives by completing the online form. The projects selected will be listed in the Global South eHealth Observatory.

By filling out this form, these project sponsors will also have the opportunity to compete for the Global South eHealth Observatory Awards, to be presented on 2 July 2018 during the Observatory’s Annual Conference.

In 2017, nine winning initiatives were selected from among the 71 submitted, with each winner receiving one year of financial and technical support from the Fondation Pierre Fabre. See the 2017 winners

The importance of eHealth in the Global South
In 2016, true to its mission to improve access to healthcare and medicines and after in-depth analysis of the rise of new technologies and their applications to healthcare, the Fondation Pierre Fabre created the Global South eHealth Observatory. The mission of the Observatory is to identify, document, promote and help develop eHealth initiatives that lead to lasting improvement in access to quality healthcare and medicines for the poorest populations in countries with limited resources. It is positioned as a resource, gateway and networking platform for developing eHealth in the Global South. The www.odess.io website is an open database that centralises the data available on the initiatives listed on the platform.

Currently 95% of the world’s population is covered by a cellular network, with more than seven billion subscriptions. Between 2000 and 2014, the Internet penetration rate rose from 6% to 43%, thereby connecting 3.2 billion people. This worldwide revolution also impacts the Global South by virtue of that region’s overwhelming adoption of mobile phone use.

These new technologies make it possible to create appropriate, long-lasting, sustainable tools to improve health in the Global South, particularly in areas experiencing personnel and infrastructures shortages. Information and communication technologies (ICT) have tremendous potential for improving healthcare for people in the Global South by reducing the cost of healthcare access, relaying information on the prevention and early detection of diseases, helping fight epidemics and improving immunisation coverage and access to quality medicines.

What must one do to have an eHealth initiative listed in the Observatory?

On the website www.odess.io, project sponsors are invited to complete a form detailing their project so that it can be listed in the Observatory’s open database.

How does one compete for the Observatory Awards?

Once the submission form has been sent, project sponsors can apply to compete for the Observatory Awards: http://www.odess.io/suggest-an-initiative.html
An expert panel will study the submitted projects and winners will be invited to the Annual Conference on 2 July 2018, at the Foundation’s headquarters (Lavaur, France), to accept their prize.

Partners of the Global South eHealth Observatory:

Agence Française de Développement
AFD is France’s inclusive public development bank. It commits financing and technical assistance to projects that genuinely improve everyday life, both in developing and emerging countries and in the French overseas provinces. In keeping with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, AFD works in many sectors — energy, healthcare, biodiversity, water, digital technology, professional training, among others — to assist with transitions towards a safer, more equitable, and more sustainable world : a world in common. Through its network of 85 field offices, AFD currently finances, monitors, and assists more than 2,500 development projects in 108 countries. In 2016, AFD earmarked EUR 9.4bn to finance projects in developing countries and for overseas France.

Fondation de l’Avenir
The Fondation de l’Avenir for Applied Medical Research was created in 1987 by the Mutualité Française. It has been recognized as a public utility since 1988.
Driven by its vocation of general interest and its membership in the social economy, the Foundation embodies the link between the mutualist movement and public health actors. Through its actions, recommendations and publications, it actively participates in the improvement of our healthcare system. It allows researchers to advance their research projects and move beyond the fundamental stage for the benefit of all.

Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie
The Francophone University Agency (AUF), an international higher education association created more than 50 years ago, brings together more than 840 universities, major schools, scientific networks and research centers around the world. As coordinator of one of the world’s largest higher education network, AUF assists universities for their structuration, expansion and involvement in local and global development. Its teams are present all over the world, and provide follow-up and advice for the design and management of projects. AUF offers technical and financial support and helps in the search for new partners. AUF develops and manages large-scale multilateral projects in all fields of higher education and social development.