The equity factor of grassroots innovations: Part 1 of 3 takeaways from the World Health Innovation Forum on why grassroots innovations are key to addressing NCDs

Innovation is increasingly being seen as a driver of resilient, more responsive health systems. New products hit the market every day, from medical devices to mobile applications, and many respond to persistent gaps in global health policy and programmes. Consequently, policy discussions tend to focus on scaling such innovations and ensuring access to high-quality, safe and appropriate health technologies.

While essential, what is underserved in these discussions is the value of grassroots innovations in addressing health inequities. Designed by and for communities from low-resource settings who are close to the problem, grassroots innovations provide a clearer understanding of local needs, opportunities, interests and power dynamics. They can respond to health challenges in more equitable, efficient and culturally appropriate ways. Many such innovations addressing NCDs are social in nature, involving new, community-informed processes that cut across, in many instances, siloed sectors and address the root drivers of NCDs. 

• Read more about how selected NCD Lab projects drive multisectoral collaboration and address the roots causes of NCDs

The path to the much-needed scale and impact of these grassroots innovations requires different policy considerations, including closer attention to the socio-economic, political, cultural and institutional features and equity gaps of a country’s policy environment.

Background

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are among the world’s most urgent and complex health challenges. Cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease and mental health conditions account for over 74% of all global deaths, and their complex risk factors are often intertwined with the negative impacts of additional determinants of health. NCDs are also a matter of equity, as the vast majority of the 17 million premature NCD-related deaths every year occur in lower- and middle-income countries.

Contextualizing and scaling proven, cost-effective interventions such as the “NCD best buys” remains a priority, but innovative solutions are urgently needed to fast-track progress and avert millions of preventable deaths from NCDs.

The recent World Health Innovation Forum in Vizag, India explored strategies to sustainably scale health innovations through the public sector. This article presents the first of three takeaways on why and how grassroots innovations addressing NCDs can be a part of the solution.

This article is the first in a three part series on the equity factor of grassroots innovations.