A novel application of the Osterwalder model: Towards a sustainable ecosystem for Point of Care Technologies

Abstract

It is not the absence of technology that hampers the healthcare delivery process but the complexity in identification of the right mix of technology that can address critical health needs in society in an economical manner that makes healthcare unaffordable and inaccessible to the majority of the world's population. There is a severe dearth of medical technicians in the rural areas in developing countries. This hampers laboratory investigations resulting in ineffective screening with the consequent delay in diagnosis and treatment. Point of Care Technology (POCT) promises to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare. POCT will help bridge the last mile and empower doctors to ensure Point of Care (POC) diagnosis themselves in their Out Patient Departments (OPD) and clinics thus facilitating effective screening and early referral. However, making the ecosystem sustainable for the POCT requires an optimum use of several other technologies. This paper discusses a novel application of the Osterwalder business model development tool. Several examples of how POCT manufacturers can use the tool to arrive at the right technology mix to make POCT sustainable in the ecosystem are discussed.