Implementing Innovative Approaches to Healthcare in a Lower-Middle Income Country: Perspectives from Malawi
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Middle Income Country: Perspectives from Malawi
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Authors Larsson E, Mawkin M, Taylor-Robinson SD, Harrington P, Gondwe H, Watson C, Gallagher J, Ledwidge M, Chirambo GB, O'Donoghue J
Received 3 October 2020
Accepted for publication 2 December 2020
Published 31 December 2020 Volume 2020:13 Pages 1723—1730
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S285130
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Dr Scott Fraser
Article has an altmetric score of 5
Emma Larsson,1 Mala Mawkin,1 Simon D Taylor-Robinson,1 Peter Harrington,2 Hastings Gondwe,3 Chris Watson,2,4 Joseph Gallagher,2 Mark Ledwidge,2 Griphin Baxter Chirambo,5,6 John O’Donoghue2,6,7
1Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2BX, UK; 2gHealth Research Group, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; 3St John’s Hospital, Mzuzu, Malawi; 4Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland; 5Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi; 6Malawi eHealth Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; 7ASSERT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Correspondence: John O’Donoghue
ASSERT Research Centre, University College Cork, College Road, Cork T12 K8AF, Ireland
Tel +353 21 420 5616
Email john.odonoghue@ucc.ie
Introduction: Safe, reliable, and effective healthcare systems are essential for all nations to ensure the health and wellbeing of their citizens. However, this is not always achievable with clinical therapies constantly evolving, resulting in a domino effect of structural, policy and training changes. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), implementing change is restricted. It is essential that innovative and realistic solutions are developed, so that effective change can be realised in LMICs.
Materials and Methods: In this report of a global health conference held in July 2019, six perspectives are presented which aim to generate long-term positive change in Malaŵi. Perspective 1: Pneumonia – the BIOTOPE study (BIOmarkers TO diagnose PnEumonia) sought to determine the aetiology of pneumonia in children presenting in primary care. It assessed blood-based markers of bacterial infection as part of a rapid diagnostic approach to better utilise existing resources in Malaŵi. Perspective 2: Cardiovascular – the CARDIA project (CARdiac Dysfunction in Africa) was established to assess clinical and biochemical phenotypes of diabetic patients in Malaŵi. Perspective 3: Asthma – an observational study was conducted to implement a health system strengthening initiative for asthma. The use of locally adapted formularies and protocols with ongoing online mentoring through expert partnerships provided an opportunity to sustainably build capacity. Perspective 4: Sustainable Partnerships – establishing the Malaŵi electronic Health (eHealth) Research Centre, an international hub to develop education, research and innovation for long-term collaboration. Perspective 5: Part-Time PhD Studies – undertaking a part-time PhD within a LMIC provides logistic challenges, but also a number of opportunities for observational research. Perspective 6: Medical electives – an undergraduate elective allows real exposure to global health and facilitates life-long collaborations at an early stage in a medical career.
Conclusion: Malaŵi is an under-doctored and resource-poor country. North-South partnerships in Malaŵi should be strengthened with particular emphasis on healthcare innovations, such as eHealth, which allow healthcare problems to be highlighted early while preventative measures are still possible.
Abstract
Fulltext
Metrics
Get Permission
Cite this article
Authors Larsson E, Mawkin M, Taylor-Robinson SD, Harrington P, Gondwe H, Watson C, Gallagher J, Ledwidge M, Chirambo GB, O'Donoghue J
Received 3 October 2020
Accepted for publication 2 December 2020
Published 31 December 2020 Volume 2020:13 Pages 1723—1730
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S285130
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Dr Scott Fraser
Article has an altmetric score of 5
Emma Larsson,1 Mala Mawkin,1 Simon D Taylor-Robinson,1 Peter Harrington,2 Hastings Gondwe,3 Chris Watson,2,4 Joseph Gallagher,2 Mark Ledwidge,2 Griphin Baxter Chirambo,5,6 John O’Donoghue2,6,7
1Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2BX, UK; 2gHealth Research Group, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; 3St John’s Hospital, Mzuzu, Malawi; 4Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queens University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland; 5Mzuzu University, Mzuzu, Malawi; 6Malawi eHealth Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; 7ASSERT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
Correspondence: John O’Donoghue
ASSERT Research Centre, University College Cork, College Road, Cork T12 K8AF, Ireland
Tel +353 21 420 5616
Email john.odonoghue@ucc.ie
Introduction: Safe, reliable, and effective healthcare systems are essential for all nations to ensure the health and wellbeing of their citizens. However, this is not always achievable with clinical therapies constantly evolving, resulting in a domino effect of structural, policy and training changes. For low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), implementing change is restricted. It is essential that innovative and realistic solutions are developed, so that effective change can be realised in LMICs.
Materials and Methods: In this report of a global health conference held in July 2019, six perspectives are presented which aim to generate long-term positive change in Malaŵi. Perspective 1: Pneumonia – the BIOTOPE study (BIOmarkers TO diagnose PnEumonia) sought to determine the aetiology of pneumonia in children presenting in primary care. It assessed blood-based markers of bacterial infection as part of a rapid diagnostic approach to better utilise existing resources in Malaŵi. Perspective 2: Cardiovascular – the CARDIA project (CARdiac Dysfunction in Africa) was established to assess clinical and biochemical phenotypes of diabetic patients in Malaŵi. Perspective 3: Asthma – an observational study was conducted to implement a health system strengthening initiative for asthma. The use of locally adapted formularies and protocols with ongoing online mentoring through expert partnerships provided an opportunity to sustainably build capacity. Perspective 4: Sustainable Partnerships – establishing the Malaŵi electronic Health (eHealth) Research Centre, an international hub to develop education, research and innovation for long-term collaboration. Perspective 5: Part-Time PhD Studies – undertaking a part-time PhD within a LMIC provides logistic challenges, but also a number of opportunities for observational research. Perspective 6: Medical electives – an undergraduate elective allows real exposure to global health and facilitates life-long collaborations at an early stage in a medical career.
Conclusion: Malaŵi is an under-doctored and resource-poor country. North-South partnerships in Malaŵi should be strengthened with particular emphasis on healthcare innovations, such as eHealth, which allow healthcare problems to be highlighted early while preventative measures are still possible.
Date Issued
2020-12-31
Date Acceptance
2020-12-03
Citation
International Journal of General Medicine, 2020, 2020, pp.1723-1730
ISSN
1178-7074
Publisher
Dove Medical Press
Start Page
1723
End Page
1730
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of General Medicine
Volume
2020
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Larsson et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. The full terms of the License are
available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author
and source are credited.
available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author
and source are credited.
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Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Identifier
https://www.dovepress.com/implementing-innovative-approaches-to-healthcare-in-a-lower-middle-inc-peer-reviewed-article-IJGM
Grant Number
097816/Z/11/ZR
097816/Z/11/A
097816/Z/11/B
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, General & Internal
General & Internal Medicine
eHealth
mHealth
non-communicable diseases
respiratory disease
cardiovascular disease
diabetes
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES
PNEUMONIA ETIOLOGY
PREVALENCE
SPREAD
cardiovascular disease
diabetes
eHealth
mHealth
non-communicable diseases
respiratory disease
1103 Clinical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-12-31