Science, Technology and Innovation Science, Technology and Innovation as Important Catalysts of as Important Catalysts of

Optimum Health Care Optimum Health Care

11stst International Scientific Conference, International Scientific Conference, KNH Medical campus, NairobiKNH Medical campus, Nairobi

15 15thth June 2011 June 2011Prof. Shaukat A. Abdulrazak, Ph.D, MBSProf. Shaukat A. Abdulrazak, Ph.D, MBS

Secretary/CEO Secretary/CEO National Council for Science & TechnologyNational Council for Science & Technology

IntroductionIntroduction Human dignity, social justice and equal access to quality health are fundamental for Human dignity, social justice and equal access to quality health are fundamental for

sustainable socio-economic development.sustainable socio-economic development. In post-independent Kenya, disease was among the 3 major challenges to Kenya’s In post-independent Kenya, disease was among the 3 major challenges to Kenya’s

long term development plan (Sessional paper no. 10 1965).long term development plan (Sessional paper no. 10 1965). The government has made significant strides in improving quality health care through The government has made significant strides in improving quality health care through

addressing WHO health targets through MDGs and other Global health initiatives.addressing WHO health targets through MDGs and other Global health initiatives. In the new constitutional dispensation, health of the Kenyan people is indeed a In the new constitutional dispensation, health of the Kenyan people is indeed a

fundamental right. fundamental right. To galvanize gains within health sector, the government through the MoH have To galvanize gains within health sector, the government through the MoH have

institutedinstituted

To To The Kenyan National Health Sector The Kenyan National Health Sector

Strategic Plans (NHSSP ) I and II between 1999–2004 Strategic Plans (NHSSP ) I and II between 1999–2004 and 2005–2010 respectively with a specific goal; and 2005–2010 respectively with a specific goal; “To “To promote and participate in the provision of integrated promote and participate in the provision of integrated and high quality promotive, preventive, curative and and high quality promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services to all Kenyans"rehabilitative health care services to all Kenyans"..

Taken together with the Vision 2030, the themeTaken together with the Vision 2030, the theme““Optimum Health care” is a befitting theme for this Optimum Health care” is a befitting theme for this

conference but also a critical part of conference but also a critical part of the social pillar and an insurance the social pillar and an insurance towards a healthy and productive towards a healthy and productive workforce and population.workforce and population.

Bedrock of Vision 2030Bedrock of Vision 2030

Government score card (Government score card (KDHS 2009)KDHS 2009)

Improved immunization programImproved immunization program Significant drop Significant drop (36%) (36%) in in child mortalitychild mortality Major strides in malaria control; with significant Major strides in malaria control; with significant

impact in malaria prevalence i.e. drop by 44% in impact in malaria prevalence i.e. drop by 44% in malaria related deaths among under 5 yearsmalaria related deaths among under 5 years

Drop in HIV prevalence from a high of 13.4 per cent Drop in HIV prevalence from a high of 13.4 per cent in 2000 to 6.2 per cent last yearin 2000 to 6.2 per cent last year

An improved health systems infrastructure; 1,200 (in An improved health systems infrastructure; 1,200 (in 1997) of public health facilities to more than 1997) of public health facilities to more than

7,260 in 2010.7,260 in 2010.

Challenges within our health systemChallenges within our health system High population growthHigh population growth High prevalence of infectious diseases;High prevalence of infectious diseases;

Malaria 16.9% (2010)Malaria 16.9% (2010) HIV 6.3% (2009), HIV 6.3% (2009), TB incidence rate of 353 per 100,000 pop. (2009)TB incidence rate of 353 per 100,000 pop. (2009)

Inadequate Inadequate Hospitals, equipment and suppliesHospitals, equipment and supplies Graduate and undergraduate in medical field; Only 4 National Med. Graduate and undergraduate in medical field; Only 4 National Med.

Schools (Schools (16 doctors/100,000)16 doctors/100,000) Lack of other health specialists: oncologist, radiologists and other Lack of other health specialists: oncologist, radiologists and other

technical fields in health technical fields in health

Funding in research for healthFunding in research for health Uncoordinated, non-prioritized health Uncoordinated, non-prioritized health researchresearch Missing private-public mix (PPM) between health Missing private-public mix (PPM) between health

institutions, academia, research and private sector for institutions, academia, research and private sector for innovation and incubation of home growth health innovation and incubation of home growth health solutionssolutions

Low and declining investments in health researchLow and declining investments in health research Limited research and development focussing on orphan Limited research and development focussing on orphan

diseases: chaggas disease, bilharzia, cancer,diseases: chaggas disease, bilharzia, cancer,

Strategic IssuesStrategic Issues

Local innovations & available technologies not reaching Local innovations & available technologies not reaching those in need those in need

Stagnant /constipated technologies not moving to the Stagnant /constipated technologies not moving to the market placemarket place

Innovation not often driven by local health concerns Innovation not often driven by local health concerns Low impact of national policies Low impact of national policies Slow ratification of new and emerging guidelines and Slow ratification of new and emerging guidelines and

regulations regulations Slow translation of innovative research output Slow translation of innovative research output

to health products and servicesto health products and services

Strategic Issues cont.Strategic Issues cont.

Weak Commercialization strategy Weak Commercialization strategy Lack of effective assessment of management impact, Lack of effective assessment of management impact,

and M&E frameworkand M&E framework

Role of NCST and STI health mixRole of NCST and STI health mix

Support capacity building of skilled personnel through training grants

Promoting effective innovation systems through linkages of key stakeholders that can tap the growing stock of global knowledge: GCI 93 in 2009 from 99 (2008)

Enhance economic and institutional regimes that provide for commercialization of R&D through

PPP, provision of venture capital/grants and offer of incubation centers for viable innovations

Developing and providing ethical guidelines and Developing and providing ethical guidelines and regulations that can promote unbiased research in regulations that can promote unbiased research in healthhealth

Advocating for research-based policy development Advocating for research-based policy development with the health sectorwith the health sector

Provision of research and training grants in health Provision of research and training grants in health research and capacity building; MSc, PhD, research research and capacity building; MSc, PhD, research

Arising challengesArising challenges

Developers/Purveyors of knowledge heavily inclined Developers/Purveyors of knowledge heavily inclined to public sector with low private inputto public sector with low private input

Weak linkages amongst the key stakeholders Weak linkages amongst the key stakeholders

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Build upon Public-Private-Partnerships initiatives taking Build upon Public-Private-Partnerships initiatives taking root in the countryroot in the country

Benchmark with new economies like Brazil, Russia, Benchmark with new economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China, & South Africa (BRICS) that have advanced India, China, & South Africa (BRICS) that have advanced in health innovation through technology/ in health innovation through technology/ knowledge knowledge transfer partnershipstransfer partnerships

Develop and promote new and emerging technologies in Develop and promote new and emerging technologies in drug development; drug development; nanotechnologynanotechnology, , bioinformaticsbioinformatics and and biotechnologybiotechnology for efficient and rapid health for efficient and rapid health transformation transformation

Way forward- Quadruple helixWay forward- Quadruple helix

Thank youThank you

Email: secretary@ncst.go.keEmail: secretary@ncst.go.ke

Website: http://www.ncst.go.keWebsite: http://www.ncst.go.ke