In face of global economic recession, developing world needs low-tech health innovations

Published on August 17, 2012 at 5:20 AM · No Comments

"The developing world needs support for low-tech health innovations that do not compromise on effectiveness," journalist Priya Shetty writes in this SciDev.Net opinion piece, adding that, against the backdrop of global economic recession and shrinking research and development (R&D) budgets in many developing countries, "a new movement of 'frugal science' is taking hold, in which researchers are hunting for the most cost-effective health technologies for developing countries." Shetty writes, "Cost is rarely the only limiting factor; health technologies need to be 'low-tech' -- as electricity supplies can be erratic, or hospital environments not always sterile, for instance -- without being 'low-spec,'" and continues, "Achieving this balance requires innovative thinking, which is why researchers from around the world are developing an evidence base for the most effective and innovative healthcare technologies for poorer countries."

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