Mapping processes and value chains to understand strategy in care delivery


Value chain analysis is often applied to businesses. The approach takes the line of business or business unit as its focus–not the firm as a whole. And it looks at the overall industry, not just the slice of activities that a given organization undertakes. The idea is to understand how you go from, say, raw […] Continue Reading


Hello: can primary care deliver profits in Africa?


Hello, healthcare. We were lucky enough to talk to the inspiring York Zucchi, founder and CEO of Hello Healthcare, and his colleague Dr Fanie Hattingh, who called in to MIT today. Catch Zucchi on video here. Students had prepared a case study of the cooperative business that Zucchi and his colleagues operate in South Africa. […] Continue Reading



Further down the road with Riders for Health


We looked at Riders for Health for the third time this year, which we here at MIT always enjoy doing. And this time were lucky enough to get a call into class from Lakshmi Karan, the organization’s Global Strategy Director. What makes the Riders model work? Our past blog posts present some ideas (start with […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: Village Health Works


Delivering care in one the world’s poorest countries  Student observations on Village Health Works’ participatory care model In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their overview […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: LivingGoods


Health-business-in-a-bag  Student observations on LivingGoods’ model and future strategies by Vishal Gupta, Jenny Hu, Kevin Kung, and Awilda Mendez In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: Sproxil


Can Sproxil scale its consumer-driven model of counterfeit drug surveillance?  Student observations on Sproxil’s success and challenges ahead In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their […] Continue Reading


Business models for global health: SmileTrain


SmileTrain: what’s next when mission is accomplished? Student observations on SmileTrain’s success and future possibilities In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their overview and assessment […] Continue Reading


Business models in global health: Mi Farmacita Nacional


Establishing pharmacies in low-income communities  Student observations on Mi Famacita Nacional’s dual-mission, franchising model In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article presents their overview and assessment of […] Continue Reading


ghdLAB toolkit: best practices for small clinics


Operational and strategic assessment for Kampala Family Clinic in Uganda A capsule case report of analysis for improvement in finance, operations, marketing, and information technology Kampala Family Clinic (KFC) was founded in 2004 by two Ugandan entrepreneurs to provide quality, affordable healthcare to the growing middle class in the city of Kampala, Uganda.  The clinic grew quickly […] Continue Reading



Business models in global health: Heart Institute of the Caribbean


Should the Heart Institute of the Caribbean expand to West Africa? Student observations on the organization’s success and future goals In late 2010, a small team of MIT students took a look at the organization from the outside and, as a course assignment, prepared an executive summary aimed at its board of directors. This article […] Continue Reading


Health innovation: Technology + Entrepreneurs + Institutions


A brand-new special issue of BMC International Health and Human Rights features a special collection on Health innovation in sub-Saharan Africa. The papers present examples from Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda of how science and technology innovations are connected to entrepreneurship and institutions in specific examples. The very first article takes […] Continue Reading


Can a franchise deliver global health?


Can franchises deliver better and more health care cost-effectively in places where current system fall short, and along the way equip a cadre of microentrepeneurs to spur economic development? We looked at the issues again this year: first, to explore what franchising entails, next, to study one chain of franchise clinic-pharmacies operating in Kenya and Rwanda, […] Continue Reading


VisionSpring, vision entrepreneurs


Several years ago, thanks to an innovative class pioneered by my MIT Sloan colleague Simon Johnson, MIT students had a chance to partner with finalists in the World Bank Development Marketplace business plan competition. Student teams worked directly with promising entrepreneurs, mostly from the developing world, to address a development challenge posed by the World Bank […] Continue Reading