Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) continue to be the leading cause of death globally, with four out of five people with an NCD living in LMICs. However, there is limited availability of affordable diagnostics for NCDs at the primary care level in many rural populations, making it one of the weakest links in the cascade of care. New innovations are needed to reach these populations with the accessible diagnostics services they need.
reach52 is supporting the development of MX Labs’ innovative Heart Monitor App through screening and data collection in non-urban populations across India, the Philippines and Cambodia. The Heart Monitor is designed to analyse vital signs from the human face to recognize the symptoms of hypertension and identify individual risk factors (for example, for strokes and heart attacks) as well as vascular age, enabling pre-diagnosis and advice on healthy lifestyle changes needed.
Ensuring the data driving health tech solutions is representative of all populations is essential to ensuring they work effectively for everyone who needs them. A specific focus for the reach52 and MX Labs collaboration is ensuring the technology will work across different skin tones.
reach52 will conduct the screening of 2500 patients across the 3 countries through networks of community health workers. They will conduct blood pressure monitoring (using standard BP equipment), educate on hypertension and (with patients’ consents) collect data via the reach52 access mobile app. reach52 access is an ‘offline-first’ health tech platform that enables a full range of health services in even low-connectivity regions from education and screening to an e-commerce service of affordable health products for the last-mile.
Residents that are found to have high BP readings from the standard BP monitoring process from the Community Health Workers, will be referred into the health system and guided on making lifestyle changes or seeking medical attention. In Cambodia, we are also introducing telemedicine consultation options for at-risk patients. Patients will be offered a teleconsultation, free of charge, in order to learn more about their condition.
For more information on the partnership and the services referenced, please get in contact with Zoe Bergin (Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives) at zoe@reach52.com