Resources

In 2014, PATH conducted research and interviews to understand a key question of the time: why was it challenging to scale digital health interventions in low- and middle-income countries?This research resulted in the publication The Journey to Scale, a reflection on why common information and communication technology (ICT) approaches to support health programs were not working at scale.Since the publication of The Journey to Scale a decade ago, much has changed. Today, digital technology is even more present in our lives and is an integral part of health care delivery in many geographies. And, while not all stakeholders and partners have taken the same actions and countries have not universally experienced the same level of progress, improved collaboration and implementation practices have helped to advance the quality and accessibility of health care in the digital age. But how far have we come in the journey to move beyond isolated, small-scale pilots to integrated information systems that are driven by local leaders and enabled by committed, long-term funding and robust governance mechanisms?As we reflect on and celebrate the progress and evolution of digital transformation in the global health sector, we are also looking at how we can further improve health and lives with digital tools and the health data that is now more accessible and usable because of these digital tools. This report is intended to provide a high-level overview of key trends and shifts in global digital health practice over the last ten years and provide reflections on where progress can be accelerated in future years by addressing ongoing challenges such as lack of data interoperability, insufficient cybersecurity policies and practices, and the need for sustainable financing models.

The Pandemic Fund—hosted by the World Bank—was created in September 2022 to provide a dedicated stream of additional, long-term funding for critical pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPPR) in eligible low- and middle-income countries.According to expert forecasts, there is a 66 percent chance of another COVID-like respiratory pandemic with a death toll of more than 10 million in the next 25 years. To prepare, countries must strengthen their health systems to identify, diagnose, and treat respiratory infections.Tools like pulse oximeters, which detect hypoxemia (low oxygen saturation in the blood), can provide critical data that a respiratory pandemic is emerging, and medical oxygen and related therapies are essential to treatment as the recent COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated. An adequate supply of clinical and biomedical engineers, and technicians trained to operate and maintain both is a critical plank of PPPR.This fact sheet outlines key information and resources for pursuing funding for medical oxygen and pulse oximetry through the Pandemic Fund. It is intended for use by beneficiaries, partners, civil society, and others, in developing funding requests and/or advocating for prioritizing medical oxygen and pulse oximetry in Pandemic Fund proposals.

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the most effective treatment for Plasmodium falciparum infections—the deadliest form of malaria responsible for the vast majority of the estimated 608,000 malaria deaths reported in 2022.Malaria commodities funders have been hearing about drastic fluctuations in artemisinin prices. This could pose challenges for ACT manufacturers to plan for production costs and ensure stable, affordable prices.Currently, key global health stakeholders lack a comprehensive understanding of the Chinese artemisinin market structure and dynamics, which limits insights into the price drivers of vegetal artemisinin.PATH produced this 3-month market landscape to enable the global health community to better understand the Chinese artemisinin market and current price fluctuations and to inform efforts to ensure sufficient and affordable access to ACTs.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major, under–recognized public health problem causing more severe respiratory infections and hospitalizations in infants and young children each year than any other pathogen. New immunization tools now recommended for global use by the World Health Organization (WHO) could help change that.The opportunity to address this pervasive virus has never been better. To raise awareness, WHO and PATH have developed a toolkit of communication materials that public health stakeholders and advocates can use to share information about RSV disease, new prevention tools, and delivery considerations. Other expert contributors include the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seattle Children's Hospital/University of Washington, UMC Utrecht, the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), RRD Design, and more.To accommodate varying audience and engagement needs, this toolkit includes a stand-alone RSV primer presentation (and fact sheet) providing an overview of RSV disease and prevention options. Also available are modular PowerPoint slides that can be mixed and matched with the primer presentation to dive deeper into key topics for informing understanding and decision-making around RSV prevention. All slides come with speaker notes.To learn more about the toolkit, visit the web page.NOTE: Files available here as read-only. Editable files are readily available upon request. Please contact us.

A comprehensive care approach to save lives of small and sick newborns