Challenges in Healthcare and Public Health in Developing Countries

Whether one can receive appropriate medical services is a pressing issue directly linked to life. However, in many areas of developing countries, shortages of medical institutions, uneven distribution of doctors, and geographical and structural factors make appropriate medical access difficult. In particular, it is necessary to create systems that provide medical and health services to people living in rural areas, expectant and nursing mothers, infants, and people with disabilities.

• Disparities in Medical Access (Physical Distance):
  In addition to the shortage of medical facilities, limited doctors and medical resources are concentrated in urban areas. For people living in rural areas with underdeveloped public transportation, traveling to the nearest hospital itself is a difficult hurdle.
• Fragile Maternal and Child Health and the Neglect of “Preventable Diseases”:
  There is a current reality where services are difficult to reach for those who need continuous checkups and care, such as expectant and nursing mothers and infants. Illnesses and deaths that could be prevented with just appropriate knowledge and regular checkups still continue unabated.
• Isolation of People with Disabilities and the Socially Vulnerable:
  People with disabilities who have difficulty moving or those with specific diseases tend to be left behind from appropriate health services due to a lack of understanding in the local community.

Examples of IT Solutions

• Provision of medical services through telemedicine
• Promotion of infectious disease countermeasures through health awareness campaigns utilizing SMS and apps
• Realization of preventive medicine and diagnostic support through the digitization of medical data and automated suggestion analysis

Our Achievements

Digital Obstetrics Package “SPAQ” (Project by SOIK Corp.)

Solution: Remote Obstetric Care Utilizing Smartphones

In countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Zambia, we are introducing an integrated digital obstetric care solution package to improve the quality of maternal and child health.

• Real-time Synchronization of Field Information:
  We have built a system to instantly share on-site checkup information via a smartphone app. Medical devices are linked with data, automatically calculating test results and displaying alerts if there are any abnormalities.
• Intuitive Usability:
  We have implemented a UI that even on-site midwives can easily operate simply by following the smartphone app’s navigation.
• Realization of Remote Diagnosis:
  Integrated with ultrasound diagnostic equipment, we established an environment where doctors in remote locations can make diagnoses and give instructions while viewing ultrasound images.

Project Results and Feedback from the Field

In demonstration projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries, the quality and efficiency of prenatal checkups significantly improved, and concrete results in protecting maternal and child health were demonstrated. Compared to regular prenatal checkups, the average number of people examined increased by 74%, leading to saving many lives.

In addition, we have received the following feedback from healthcare professionals and expectant mothers at implementation sites:

• “The app’s navigation has enabled even inexperienced staff to conduct high-quality examinations without oversights.”
• “Thanks to telemedicine, a sense of security has been born as we can receive advice from specialists while staying in the village.”
• “Early detection of abnormalities enabled us to save as many as 28 lives.”
• “The operation of medical facilities was streamlined, enabling sustainable management through increased revenue.”

For more details, please see the link below.

• [Project Introduction] Digital Maternal and Child Health Solution Connecting Small Medical Facilities (SOIK Corporation)

Future Directions: Further Expansion of Medical Access

• Seamless Process from Consultation to Payment:
  We will strengthen linkage with national health insurance and build a one-stop foundation that allows smooth processing from consultation to payment.
• Digital Transformation (DX) of Pharmaceutical Distribution:
  By digitizing and automating the processes of pharmaceutical purchasing, delivery, and inventory management, we will reduce the administrative burden on healthcare professionals, creating an environment where they can focus on their primary medical duties.
• Establishment of Screening Systems in Rural Villages:
  Even in rural villages without medical facilities, we will build a system where local non-medical personnel, such as village leaders, can conduct initial screenings using an app, realizing “last-mile” healthcare that watches over the health of each individual.