The typical business model for banking in the developed and developing world has been to encourage the unbanked (those at the bottom of the pyramid) to the bank. Since the deep penetration of mobile phones across the global north and south, mobile devices are now bringing the bank to the unbanked. Now with the click of a button you can transfer money (internationally and domestically), check account balances and financially plan smarter.
The Health Service Delivery Model
The business-as-usual health service delivery model has been to get the “unhealthed” to come to the clinic/hospital/health post for care and treatment. Given the increased burdens of disease and the challenges many countries face in achieving the MDGs for health, HOW do we learn from the mBanking model to bring health care to the unhealthed?
From a recent post I wrote on how needs drive innovation, we need to learn from the mBanking model and figure out what patients/consumers of health services need and design those technologies accordingly. Beyond the technology, we need to figure out:
- How has mBanking been so successful in scaling their model to reach those at the bottom of the pyramid?
- How did they operationalize it?
- How did they innovate?
- Where is mBanking failing? Note it, and improve upon it.
- How did the mBanking world address the issue of security and privacy?
Let’s learn from those who’ve stood before us before we take on the fight to bring health to the unHealthed.
