NemoCare
Deliverables
The HTA readiness tool is an easy-to-use flowchart diagram that visually depicts the stepwise process of accessing India’s public healthcare sector. Users can see an overview of required procedures and track their progress by answering a series of yes/no questions.
The comprehensive manual contains reference information to inform users about the nuances and justification for certain studies or flowlines in the diagram. This manual will allow the users to more effectively generate evidence based data and meaningful results. Furthermore, it will empower enterprises to make informed decisions about which flowline is applicable to their situation.
Mission
NemoCare aims to end all preventable neonatal and maternal deaths in the developing world by building innovative affordable, accessible, highly accurate monitoring solutions for the emerging markets.
Challenge
Healthcare technologies must prove their worth in standardized ways. In order to access India’s public healthcare sector, Nemo Care must generate sufficient, convincing evidence to prove its developed healthcare technology is cost effective and clinically effective.
Research Activities
I conducted a literature review to define the specific issues and processes of getting a health technology approved and disseminated in the public health system in India. This involved compiling published literature (and unofficial reports) on 1) relevant “Health Technology Assessments” (HTA), 2) the medical technology assessment board (MTAB) and other relevant government bodies, and 3) how recommendations are made and submitted for approval to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare. Critical points of current knowledge about this process were summarized. Commonalities between approved HTAs were drawn and annotated. An en breve gap analysis compared NemoCare’s current body of data with their desired, expected data found from the literature review. Opportunities for bridging identified gaps by building upon NemoCare’s apriori usability studies, surveys, and interviews was hypothesized.
Key Findings
- The people most in need are not being served. The Indian government plays a key role in reaching rural populations and those with limited access to healthcare. NemoCare can advance healthcare in the areas that need it most by addressing and implementing their services within the public healthcare sector.
- Healthcare technologies must prove their worth in standardized ways. In order to access India’s public healthcare sector, Nemo Care must generate sufficient evidence to prove its developed healthcare technology is cost effective and clinically effective using the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) approach.
- Procedural complexity is an obstacle. Ambiguous procedures and requirements make it difficult to navigate the HTA process. With clearer guidelines, more enterprises may consider the public sector an attainable market.
- Finding the right fit. Healthcare technologies must be assessed using the appropriate studies. Having a nuanced understanding of the investigatory options available allows an enterprise to inform their decision-making and resource allocation.
