Concept of Micro Healthcare Entrepreneurship (MHE) to Facilitate Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Prospects and Challenges

Forhad Hossain (), Rafiqul Islam, Takuzo Osugi, Faiz Shah, Tsunenori Mine, Naoki Nakashima and Ashir Ahmed
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Forhad Hossain: Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Rafiqul Islam: Data-Driven Innovation Initiative, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Takuzo Osugi: Faculty of Business Administration, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto 603-8555, Japan
Faiz Shah: Yunus Center AIT, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Tsunenori Mine: Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
Naoki Nakashima: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
Ashir Ahmed: Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: In the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), developing countries with limited resources face significant hurdles. Traditional top-down approaches, spearheaded by governments, often entail lengthy planning periods and substantial costs to reach underserved communities. This paper proposes a bottom-up, cost-effective, and preventive approach aimed at empowering local human resources and using advanced technology. We call it the Micro Healthcare Entrepreneurship (MHE) model. The MHE model comprises four primary components: (1) utilization of local human resources, (2) disruptive healthcare technology, (3) continuous training, and (4) available funds. Extensive testing of the digital health and social business elements across diverse contexts underscores their efficacy. Furthermore, the viability of social business funds has been established. To solicit feedback and refine the MHE concept, three workshops, conducted in phases, engaged 60 community healthcare service providers. This paper elucidates both the potential advantages and the challenges inherent in implementing the MHE model. By shifting the paradigm toward grassroots empowerment and leveraging existing community assets, this approach offers promise in advancing healthcare accessibility and sustainability in resource-constrained settings to achieve UHC.

Keywords: Micro Healthcare Entrepreneurship (MHE); universal health coverage (UHC); SDGs in healthcare; low-resource settings (LRSs); resource sharing; local resources; developing countries; digital health; health entrepreneurship; social business (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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