|
|
Biography |
|
|
Ken Simiyu is a 3rd year PhD student at the Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto. His research involves commercialization of health technologies developed in sub-Saharan Africa. Kenneth received a Bachelors degree in Veterinary Medicine and Masters Degree in Veterinary Public Health from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. In addition he holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the same university and completed a Masters degree in Public Health degree at George Washington University, Washington DC. In Nairobi, Kenneth provided marketing research and business development expertise to the Kenyan government, the Kenyan Trypanosomiasis Research Institute and international pharmaceutical companies based in Nairobi. In Washington, Kenneth worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as a health policy consultant specializing in HIV among migrants in the Caribbean. j
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stagnant health technologies developed in Africa
Ken Simiyu, Abdallah S. Daar and Peter A. Singer.
Many health technologies are being researched in African health research institutions which are not being commercialized. The principal constraint is not so much a lack of scientific excellence or expertise or the technologies themselves, but for reasons more likely connected with systemic deficiencies. These are stagnant technologies.
But the extent of technology stagnation and the causes of stagnation are not well understood. To understand this, we visited 23 academic and health research institutes in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, between 2007 and 2009. Using case study design, we conducted face to face semi-structured interviews with 39 African scientists in these institutions. The interview questions were designed to investigate how and why technologies may become stagnant. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and analyzed via open, axial and selective coding.
Our analysis revealed 25 technologies ranging from traditional plant products, new drug molecules, diagnostics, vaccines and non-drug health associated products. Although they were all at various stages of development, most were early stage. The key reasons for stagnation identified include scientist’s cultural mindset, lack of equipment, and absence or risk capital and private sector participation. Other reasons were poor government and institutional policies that do not support commercialization, poor marketing support, inadequate or poorly understood intellectual property regimes, regulatory bureaucracy, and user perception.
The study then describes the activities of various organizations that have carried out several programs in Africa at national and regional levels to streamline regulation, foster R &D collaboration, promote policies and attract private sector participation, all aimed at encouraging commercialization. It then concludes by making a strong case for investments in developing these technologies.
|
|
|
|
|