The success of innovations is dependent on their being people-centered, innovators have been told.

Infectious Disease Institute executive director, Dr Andrew Kambugu says for pandemics like COVID-19 and disease outbreaks to be managed well, health experts need to get on the ground.

“Before the big agencies such as the World Health Organisation and others come on board, there is a need for health experts to get to the grassroots to understand the real problem,” Kambugu, who was speaking during the Health Innovation Conference Uganda 2022 on Monday (December 12) at the Kampala Serena Hotel, said.

He added that as more people come up with innovations, there is a need to understand the context of the people from the communities.

The COVID-19 pandemic stretched healthcare systems to limits that left them unable to offer holistic care and continuity of services to other non-COVID-19-related patient populations. 

Natalie Brown US Ambassador to Uganda interacting with Dr Andrew Kambugu the executive director Infectious Diseases Institute after opening of the Health Innovations conference Uganda at Serena Hotel

The pandemic forced African governments to re-examine their finance models for the health sector technology and innovations in healthcare are projected to offer viable sustainable solutions for service delivery.

United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) digital country lead Chris Lukolyo said the challenge in financing innovation is that there are many competitors in innovations and some of them do not have proven concepts, lack data and have no research.

He called for a need for innovators to understand the innovations that should be accepted by the community.

US Ambassador to Uganda Natalie Brown said healthcare services need to be addressed using a holistic approach.

The medical drone designed to deliver ARVs

The two-day conference was intended for innovators from Africa and other nations to bring together and share innovative ideas under the theme: Building Resilient Healthcare Systems Through Innovation.

Innovators showcased their solutions and shared lessons and challenges.