Leveraging Technology to Enhance Access to Healthcare and Manage Medical Waste: Practices from Emerging Countries

Abstract

Although healthcare and healthy living are integral to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, the coronavirus epidemic has dealt a devastating blow to these efforts. As governments and policymakers were compelled to shift their focus to lockdowns, sustenance, procurement, and distribution of vaccines, the momentum for health initiatives slowed, and the already fragile health systems of emerging markets were subjected to additional shocks. However, in many underserved regions of the globe, the introduction of technology has greatly facilitated the distribution and adoption of healthcare services.

This chapter highlights mini-cases from four emerging nations: Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Although the countries are emerging, each one of them are in a distinct stage of development and face a unique set of healthcare-related challenges. The chapter showcases how four different organizations based in these countries leveraged the use of technology to take healthcare services to underserved populations. In doing so, they addressed the key challenges of imparting healthcare: geographic accessibility, availability, financial accessibility, and acceptability.

This chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications of expanding healthcare industries leading to increased healthcare waste. To prevent mass population exposure to hazardous substances, the emergence of intelligent healthcare waste collection and disposal systems will be an absolute necessity. Hence, with the development of healthcare services, governments and policymakers need to mechanize smart waste management systems to safeguard humans, animals, and the environment.

Citation

Khalil, Z.T. and Rahman, S. (2023), "Leveraging Technology to Enhance Access to Healthcare and Manage Medical Waste: Practices from Emerging Countries", Islam, Q.T., Goel, R. and Singh, T. (Ed.) Fostering Sustainable Businesses in Emerging Economies, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 187-206. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80455-640-520231012