Systems of health innovation in Africa: policy lessons from home and abroad

Mugwagwa, Julius; Hanlin, Rebecca; Iluyemi, Adesina; Chataway, Jo; Wield, David and Smith, James (2010). Systems of health innovation in Africa: policy lessons from home and abroad. In: Second Science with Africa Conference, 23-25 Jun 2010, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

URL: http://www.uneca.org/sciencewithafrica/swa2proceed...

Abstract

Science, technology and innovation (STI) are crucial to economic and social development. The use, adaptation and creation of health technologies and innovation are fundamental to Africa’s ability to deliver better health care to its people. However, simply importing new technologies is not a solution for building the expertise and capacity needed to put science and technology to productive use and make them work in the interests of developing country populations. Using examples of how India, Cuba, China, Brazil and South Africa have endeavoured to harness health innovations, this paper argues that improving immediate access to health care and health technologies is essential but not sufficient for sustainable health improvement and poverty alleviation, unless it is done in a holistic and sustainable manner linking existing challenges, priorities and capacities. A health innovation systems perspective can help in attaining this balance.

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• Item ORO ID
• 30215
• Item Type
• Conference or Workshop Item
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  Not Set	Not Set	ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council)
  Not Set	Not Set	The Open University

• Extra Information
• This paper is based on a submission originally made by the authors to the NEPAD, and is part of the book Science, Technology and Innovation for Public Health in Africa published by the African Union/NEPAD (Kalua et al, 2009).
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) > Social Sciences and Global Studies > Development
  Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) > Social Sciences and Global Studies
  Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS)
• Research Group
• Innovation, Knowledge & Development research centre (IKD)
  Institute for Innovation Generation in the Life Sciences (Innogen)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2010 United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
• Related URLs
• • http://www.uneca.org/sciencewithafrica/m...(Other)
  • http://www.uneca.org/sciencewithafrica/s...(Other)
• Depositing User
• Julius Mugwagwa