6 Business Models That Are Transforming Health Systems Around The World

Reporting for Forbes.com from the Ashoka Future Forum, an event that brought together more than 400 innovators, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and members of the media to discuss potential solutions to pressing social challenges, the author describes the six finalists in Ashoka Changemakers' "Transforming Health Systems: Gamechanging Business Models" competition.

They include:

• Changamka Microhealth - This Kenya-based social enterprise partnering with the Kenyan Ministry of Health to increase access to maternal health services uses mobile phones to deliver health financing to people on the fringes or outside the Kenyan health care system. "The project offers e-vouchers to aid low-income expectant mothers receive care as well as a microinsurance product that allows any mobile phone user to accumulate savings to cover health care costs."
• Reg4ALL - Genetic Alliance - This international computer-based participant-controlled, cross-disease health registry allows individuals to contribute their health information, "get instant feedback on how they compare to others, and still be in control of who sees and uses their information."
• Sarrell Dental & Eye Centers - This United States nonprofit organisation provides dental and eye care to children in underserved communities through 14 clinics and a dental bus service to reach rural areas.
• Healthpoint Services India Pvt. Ltd - "Healthpoint Services was established to provide in rural Indian villages with clean drinking water, medicine (through a licensed pharmacy), more than 80 comprehensive diagnostic tools, and access to qualified medical technicians via two-way telemedicine services." It offers fee-based clean, potable water, health diagnosis, pharmaceuticals, and is piloting sales for health commodities like sanitary pads, condoms and nutritional supplements for pregnant women.
• Access Afya - Using a "health kiosk"  model in Kenya - "Access Afya’s pilot mini-clinic - registered nurses create (and update) electronic medical records for ... patient[s] and use SMS [text messaging] to send appointment reminders, medication instructions and to follow-up on referrals to larger health facilities and specialists." In addition, health practitioners counsel patients on comprehensive wellness - "we want them in our clinic less, but want patients to be loyal, lifetime customers" - and offer products like clean cookstoves and water purifiers.
• MeraDoctor - A membership service in India, "MeraDoctor is delivering unlimited medical advice from licensed MMBS doctors to low-income families across India by telephone."