HOLICARE: Trustworthy, equitable healthcare diagnostics and clinical support for respiratory tract infections
The prevention of poverty related diseases in sub-Saharan Africa suffers from major technological and non-technological challenges that prevent many patients from accessing high quality healthcare, especially in remote or resource-limited areas, and this requires a drastic change in current approaches.
HOLICARE’s ambition is to tackle the challenge of diagnostics, treatment and prevention of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in low and middle income countries (LMICs), based on a holistic approach to bringing innovative diagnostics solutions to the population, with the aim of bridging the gap between technological excellence, available infrastructure, capacity and local uptake of technologies. The project will include a healthcare pilot in Ethiopia, Uganda and Senegal.
HOLICARE’s holistic approach to supporting the huge uptake in innovative diagnostic technologies comprises four pillars:
- Diagnostics, co-designed with ender users, incorporating diagnostics under reassured criteria, multi-lateral flow tests for on-field rapid screening, a mobile reader platform and app, and point of care instruments for in-hospital diagnosis
- Resources and networks covering enhancement of digital infrastructures, creation of quality-controlled biobanks, data connectivity for diagnostic results data flow, and improvements to local manufacturing and implementation of quality control processes
- HOLICARE Academy to create and provide regular workshops, transfer of know-how: EU-Africa and across Africa, technical training, career development programmes and the development of entrepreneurship potential
- Enabling access through engaging and linking with relevant stakeholders, aligning with health systems, increasing awareness amongst the public, value chain analysis and health-impact modelling, investigating lower/middle-income tailored business models and developing implementation strategies
Visit the HOLICARE website for more on the project.
Partners: Ahri, Blumorpho, Global Access Diagnostics, Hahn Schickard, iSTOC IDA, Karolinska Institut, KTH, MAC, Makerere University, Mast Group, Mbarara University of Science & Technology, Intitut Pasteur de Dakar, Stokholms Universitet and the Healthcare Innovation Centre (HIC).
HOLICARE is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, under grant agreement No. 101057596.