Innovating for Impact: WHO's Game-Changing Health Technologies for Underserved Regions

The "WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies for Low-resource Settings 2024" emphasizes the critical need for appropriate and affordable health technologies in low-resource settings. By focusing on non-communicable diseases and other health priorities, the compendium highlights innovative solutions at various stages of development and encourages stakeholder collaboration to improve global health outcomes.

In an era where technological advancements often cater to high-resource environments, the World Health Organization (WHO) is shedding light on the critical need for innovative health technologies in low-resource settings. The "WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies for Low-resource Settings 2024" emphasizes the importance of providing appropriate, affordable, effective, and safe technologies to improve patient care and overall population well-being in underserved regions.

The Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are major health challenges worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). According to the compendium, NCDs claim 41 million lives annually, accounting for 74 percent of global deaths. Disturbingly, 17 million people die from NCDs before the age of 70, with a significant proportion (86 percent) of these premature deaths occurring in resource-constrained regions.

Cardiovascular disease alone is responsible for 17.9 million deaths annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million, including deaths from diabetes-related kidney disease). These statistics highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and accessible health technologies to manage and mitigate the impact of NCDs in LMICs.

The focus of the 2024 Compendium

The 2024 edition of the compendium focuses on addressing the growing burden of NCDs while also considering other health priorities. It features a diverse range of health technologies at various stages of development, including commercially available products, newly commercialized innovations, and prototypes.

The selection process for these technologies involves a rigorous five-step method: an open call for submissions, initial screening, WHO assessment, deliberation and recommendation by the Strategic Advisory Group on Medical Devices and Health Technologies (STAG MEDEV), and final validation by WHO. This comprehensive approach ensures that the selected technologies meet high standards of clinical effectiveness, regulatory compliance, health technology assessment (HTA), health technology management (HTM), intellectual property considerations, and feasibility of local production.

Highlights from the 2024 Compendium

The compendium provides detailed assessments of 21 health technologies classified as commercially available (13), newly commercialized (3), prototypes (4), and updates with a full assessment (1). Each technology is meticulously described, including product specifications provided by developers and a synthesis of the WHO assessment.

One of the key goals of the compendium is to encourage interaction among stakeholders, including ministries of health, procurement officers, donors, technology developers, manufacturers, clinicians, biomedical engineers, academics, and the public. By offering relevant information and evidence-based assessments, the compendium aims to facilitate informed decision-making and investment in appropriate health technologies that can significantly improve healthcare delivery in low-resource settings.

The compendium also includes seven minor updates that did not require full assessments, ensuring that the information remains current and useful for stakeholders. This continuous update process highlights WHO's commitment to promoting innovative health technologies and improving global health outcomes.

Encouraging Stakeholder Engagement

The "WHO Compendium of Innovative Health Technologies for Low-resource Settings 2024" underscores the importance of stakeholder engagement in accelerating the impact of health innovations. By fostering collaboration among various entities, the compendium aims to create a more integrated approach to healthcare delivery in low-resource settings.

Information on all past editions of the compendium is available on the WHO website, providing a valuable resource for stakeholders to access a wealth of information on innovative health technologies. This initiative not only raises awareness about the pressing need for suitable, affordable solutions but also encourages ongoing innovation and development in the field of health technology.

The WHO compendium serves as a crucial tool in identifying and promoting health technologies that address the unique challenges faced by low-resource settings. By highlighting the urgent need for appropriate health solutions and fostering stakeholder collaboration, the compendium aims to improve health outcomes and enhance healthcare delivery for underserved populations worldwide.