Project Title

Data Collection Survey on Healthcare ICT for Supporting
COVID-19 Countermeasures in the World (QCBS)
Country

World 
Client

ITEC (JICA)
Period

Mar 2021-Mar 2022

Position

Healthcare Policy

Type of Service

 the Study for Data Collection

SDGs

 SDGs
Photo



Outline
Information and communication technology (ICT) has been actively introduced to improve operational efficiency, reduce medical errors, and promote paperless medical practices.　In addition, with the development of communication technology and networks, and the miniaturization and sophistication of terminals such as smartphones, large amounts of data can now be exchanged smoothly and easily accessed, which has led to the introduction of various forms of telemedicine. Also, many people are using smartphone applications for health management.
 
These digital health technologies are also effective in dealing with COVID-19, which is spread by droplet and contact infections, and the spread of COVID-19 has led to the rapid introduction of these ICTs in countries around the world, including developing countries, and the market scale is expanding. In each country, various ICTs are being developed to reduce the risk to healthcare workers and prevent the spread of infection, and accompanying deregulation is being promoted at a rapid pace. 
 
Based on the above-mentioned background, this survey aims to promote the digitalization of the health sector and the development of the digital health markets in developing countries, including the Republic of Indonesia, the Republic of Kenya, and the Federal Republic of Brazil, in order to solve healthcare issues including COVID-19. The objective of this project is to examine specific JICA’s support measures for the governments of Indonesia, Kenya and Brazil (Target countries), and for the private companies (Japanese, target country’s and other third country’s), involving collaboration and co-creation with various partners.
 
The member from PSD was responsible for developing JICA’s measure in Kenya including for supporting two Proof of Concepts in Kenya.

Project Title

Information gathering and verification survey for the introduction digital health technology for the promotion of global cluster strategy (QCBS-Lump Sum Type)
Country

Bhutan, Honduras, Nepal, Laos
Client

Japan International Cooperation Agency（JICA)
Period

October. 2024-September. 2026

Position

Deputy Chief

Type of Service

Investigation and resarch

SDGs

 SDGs
Outline

 In recent years, the use of digital technology in the health sector has been actively promoted. It is not limited to the easy and rapid sharing of records and reports through digitalization, but has also spread in various fields, such as telemedicine, tele-education, medical care support using AI, and policy support using big data.
 Even in developing countries, although there are constraints on infrastructure development such as limited communication networks and low penetration of digital devices, further use of digital health technology is required as a means to overcome the vulnerability of the medical service delivery system due to the potential lack of medical resources. 
 JICA is also promoting DX in its overall activities from the perspectives of both organizational DX and operational DX under the JICA DX Vision. In the health sector, the Agenda of JICA explicitly calls for the active application of digital health technology in each project.
 The purpose of this survey is to analyze and examine the use of digital technology in the healthcare field and its practice, including information collection and demonstration, with the aim of further advancing efforts to introduce and promote the use of digital health in health projects under the JICA Cluster Strategy. In particular, the suvey will develop a prototype product to support the digitalization of Care of Continuum for Maternal and Child Health (MCH), including the digitization of MCH handbooks. It also plans to demonstrate the prorotype and discusses the feasibility to develop a Digital Public Good for MCH.

Project Title

The Project for the Promotion of Collaboration between BMGF and JICA
Country

India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, ASEAN (ACPHEED) and other Asian countries
Client

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
Period

November 2024 – September 2025

Type of Service

Investigation 

SDGs

 SDGs
Outline

In the past, the Gates Foundation and JICA have collaborated project-level in Pakistan and Nigeria to combat infectious diseases. In addition, They are aligning their own strategies at the global level such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), the GAVI Alliance, and the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for maternal, newborn and child health.

The Gates Foundation's Europe, Middle East and East Asia Bureau (EMEEA) has decided to further collaboration with JICA to promote specific projects in the Asian region (especially India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Indonesia, and ASEANCDC (ACPHEED)).  Also, the four fields were identified as priority areas, such as health, nutrition, agriculture, and DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure).
 
Specifically, based on hearings with stakeholders on both sides, thematic roundtables, and coordination with the governments of each recipient country, proposals will be drawn up on the selection of candidate projects for the collaboration, the type of the collaboration and the timeline.  In addition, the agreement between the two sides and the involvement of stakeholders other than the BMGF and JICA will be examined, and then a final report will be compiled.