PATH has announced the launch of PHC Tech Challenge which aims to advance primary healthcare and improve health outcomes in India and other countries with low-and-middle-income categories.

Launched in partnership with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, the PHC Tech Challenge has others like Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platform, Social Alpha, Swasth, ACT, Stanford Byers Centre for Biodesign, and The Stanford Centre for Innovation in Global Health as its supporters. 

The mission of PHC Tech Challenge is to accelerate the deployment of near-ready solutions in public health settings and improve access to primary healthcare in India. The programme seeks innovative med-tech solutions, digital health innovations, cold chain systems, and frugal innovations that enable the overall operationalisation of primary healthcare. Indian and global enterprises who have innovative products benchmarked at TR-8 or beyond can apply. 

Commenting on the launch of the PHC Tech Challenge, Prof K Vijayraghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to Government of India, said, “The PHC Tech Challenge is being launched at an opportune moment because innovation in medical technologies is a constant need to meet the challenges of primary health care in India.”

Mohammad Ameel, Head, Primary Health Care, Technology & Innovations at PATH India, said, “PATH is pleased to host the PHC Tech Challenge to bridge the gaps in adoption and scaling of innovations which would positively impact primary healthcare in India and beyond. This programme brings together diverse and complementary strengths of our partners in providing a balanced concoction of support tools to innovations at the brim of implementation.”

The innovations selected under the programme will receive support for on-ground implementation from PATH and the programme partners. The support provided will include refining operational plans, navigating the regulatory landscape, and understanding national and global market dynamics. 

The selected innovations will also be showcased to key global and local stakeholders working in the space of primary healthcare such as the government, health agencies, donors, development partners, etc.