Swasthya Samadhan

Almost 75% of healthcare expenditure comes from the pockets of households, and catastrophic healthcare cost is an important cause of impoverishment. Added to the problem is the lack of accessibility to healthcare in rural areas in South Asia, but people do have access to the internet as the transition to technology in the world has reached South Asia, with that benefit we bring healthcare to them through the internet in the form of an app to provide accurate medical information to them and suggest nearby hospitals in their locality. We have developed an app model to provide cheap, accessible and accurate healthcare advice to countless people in rural areas who do not have access or monetary wealth to access basic healthcare . Our model gives easy healthcare advice in vernacular languages to provide support and aid to the rural population of South Asia. These instructions are shared on the app developed for the rural population as well as through a phone call using the newly developed interactive voice response technology. South Asia, a region of strategic importance, faces public health challenges on a demographic and geographic scale unmatched in the world. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s population. Even more dramatic, however, these countries are home to two-thirds of the world’s population living on less than $1 a day. South Asia’s low life expectancy and high rates of malnutrition, infant mortality, and incidence of TB and HIV/AIDS are second only to those of sub-Saharan Africa. The region faces not only these and related health problems—poor sanitation, poor maternal health, poor access to healthcare services, and widespread malaria—but also an emerging chronic disease epidemic. Despite the magnitude of these interrelated challenges, these five countries on average spend less than 3.2 percent of their gross domestic products on health, compared to a global average of 8.2 percent. They constitute the world’s only region to see its health expenditures fall from 2000 to 2006. With our solution we plan to mitigate the harms of healthcare in South Asia and give back to society with this model.

Almost 75% of healthcare expenditure comes from the pockets of households, and catastrophic healthcare cost is an important cause of impoverishment. Added to the problem is the lack of accessibility to healthcare in rural areas in South Asia, but people do have access to the internet as the transition to technology in the world has reached South Asia, with that benefit we bring healthcare to them through the internet in the form of an app to provide accurate medical information to them and suggest nearby hospitals in their locality. We have developed an app model to provide cheap, accessible and accurate healthcare advice to countless people in rural areas who do not have access or monetary wealth to access basic healthcare. Our model gives easy healthcare advice in vernacular languages to provide support and aid to the rural population of South Asia. These instructions are shared on the app developed for the rural population as well as through a phone call using the newly developed interactive voice response technology

Our solution can impact the lives of millions of people by giving them a fundamental right to accessibility of healthcare. By doing this we save countless lives and solve the basic need for healthcare in rural areas all around South Asia. South Asia has the world's largest population and geographic obstacles when it comes to public health. Almost half of the world's population resides in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. What's even more shocking is that two thirds of people on the planet reside in these nations and make less than $1 each day. The poor life expectancy, high infant mortality, TB, HIV/AIDS, and malnutrition rates in South Asia are surpassed only by those of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to these and related health issues—poor maternal and child health, limited access to healthcare services,  and widespread malaria—there is also an emerging chronic disease epidemic. Despite the magnitude of these interrelated challenges, these five countries on average spend less than 3.2 percent of their gross domestic products on health, compared to a global average of 8.2 percent. They constitute the world’s only region to see its health expenditures fall from 2000 to 2006. With our solution we plan to mitigate the harms of healthcare in South Asia and give back to society with this model.

Our team is the best team to deliver this cause and initiative because we are mainly based in South Asia so we know the exclusive help that people need over here, as well as that our team is very diverse in nature because we home people from many different cultural backgrounds from South Asia so we can make it more accessible and specialised for each person. Including that, our coding and designing talent as a team at large is extremely high compared to others making us a team that can deliver quantity, quality and accessibility.

Our solution is established in a few communities with a consistent design and approach, ready for further growth in multiple communities or countries. 

We need Solve in our solution because it supports both legal and financial aspects, with the support of Solve in monetary funding we can expand this application to the entire world helping everyone with their healthcare needs. Including that, we also aim to reach entities such as political organisations and large hospitals to make people more aware about our app so that people in need know that there is something that can help them with their problems. We need legal support because we need to register this initiative and with the legal support of Solve we can do this much more easily.

Swasthya Samadhan represents a groundbreaking approach in healthcare delivery for rural South Asia, characterized by its innovative integration of multilingual Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology. This technology empowers users, many of whom may face literacy challenges, to access vital healthcare information in six different local languages. By circumventing common barriers such as literacy and language, the app ensures that essential health advice is accessible to a broader audience, including those in remote or underserved regions. 

Moreover, Swasthya Samadhan leverages AI to analyze user input and provide immediate, tailored health guidance without prescribing medication. This aspect of the technology is crucial as it provides a preliminary assessment that can guide individuals on whether to seek further medical consultation, thus potentially reducing unnecessary hospital visits and easing the burden on healthcare facilities. 

Additionally, the app doesn't just stop at offering health advice; it connects users with nearby medical facilities, providing details like location, contact information, and ratings. This feature not only helps in emergency situations but also enhances the overall healthcare ecosystem by promoting transparency and informed decision-making among patients. 

By focusing on a user-friendly interface and addressing the specific needs and circumstances of its target audience, Swasthya Samadhan sets a new standard for health tech solutions in developing regions. It not only changes the market landscape by pushing for higher standards of patient care and information accessibility but also encourages other players in the healthcare industry to follow suit in technological adoption and innovation. Through its model, Swasthya Samadhan could catalyze broader positive impacts, inspiring similar initiatives that aim to bridge the gap between technology and healthcare in other parts of the world.

Swasthya Samadhan's impact is rooted in its straightforward yet powerful theory of change: by providing a user-friendly, multilingual IVR system, the app significantly reduces barriers to healthcare information access in rural South Asia. The key activity—enabling voice-driven interaction in local languages—directly produces the immediate output of increased healthcare knowledge among users. This is essential in regions where literacy rates may be low and local languages vary. Over time, as users become more informed about health conditions and available services, we expect the outcomes to include better self-management of health, decreased reliance on emergency services due to preventable illnesses, and more effective utilization of local healthcare resources. These outcomes are anticipated to lead to broader community health improvements and reductions in healthcare expenditure. Supporting this theory are various studies indicating that increased health literacy correlates strongly with improved health outcomes. Additionally, initial feedback from user interviews has highlighted the app's ease of use and helpfulness, suggesting a positive reception and potential for significant impact. By continuously monitoring user engagement and outcomes, Swasthya Samadhan can refine its approach, ensuring it remains effective and responsive to the needs of its target population.

Swasthya Samadhan aims to achieve transformative impact through specific, measurable goals centered around improving healthcare access and literacy in rural South Asia. Our primary impact goals include increasing healthcare knowledge by 50%, reducing non-emergency hospital visits by 30%, and improving satisfaction with local healthcare services by 40% within the first two years. We are tracking our progress using several indicators, such as the number of user interactions per month, the percentage of repeat users, and user satisfaction ratings collected through in-app surveys post-interaction. Additionally, we monitor the frequency of healthcare facility referrals generated by the app and subsequent follow-ups, aligning these metrics with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal indicators, particularly those related to good health and well-being (SDG 3). By analyzing this data, we can evaluate the efficacy of our app in real-time, make necessary adjustments, and transparently report our progress and impact to stakeholders and the broader community.

Swasthya Samadhan leverages a sophisticated AI-driven Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system as its core technology, enabling users to access healthcare information and services through simple voice commands in multiple local languages. This system uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand and respond to user queries accurately, ensuring effective communication regardless of the user's literacy level. Additionally, the app integrates geolocation technology to pinpoint the nearest healthcare facilities, providing users with real-time information on locations, services, and ratings. This combination of AI, NLP, and geolocation technologies allows Swasthya Samadhan to deliver personalized healthcare information and recommendations, making it an innovative solution that harnesses modern technology to address the pressing healthcare accessibility issues in rural South Asia.

Our Swasthya Samadhan team comprises four dedicated individuals focused on developing and managing our healthcare app. We have one full-time video editor, one full-time writer and editor, and one full-time social media handler. I serve as both the coder and CEO on a full-time basis as well. Currently, all team members are employed full-time and are integral to our operations, with no part-time staff or contractors. This streamlined team structure allows for efficient collaboration and communication, ensuring our solution remains focused and impactful.

We have been dedicatedly working on our Swasthya Samadhan solution for the past 8 months. During this time, our team has focused on developing, refining, and implementing the app to ensure it effectively meets the healthcare needs of rural communities in South Asia. This period has involved intensive research, development, and user engagement to tailor our technology to the unique challenges faced by our target users.

At Swasthya Samadhan, we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as core components of our organizational culture and operational strategy. Our team comprises members from diverse geographical regions within India as well as one member from the United States, bringing a rich mix of cultural perspectives and insights that enhance our solution's relevance and accessibility. This geographical diversity is instrumental in ensuring that our app addresses varied healthcare practices and language needs, which are crucial for our target demographic in rural South Asia. We actively work to minimize barriers to opportunity and create a welcoming environment by implementing flexible working conditions and fostering open communication. Our hiring practices are designed to be inclusive, ensuring that candidates are evaluated based on their skills and potential to contribute to our goals, regardless of their background or identity. We are committed to ongoing education and training in DEI principles for our team, which supports our collective understanding and respect for cultural differences. Furthermore, we are actively expanding our efforts to include more diverse voices from different socioeconomic backgrounds and expertise in healthcare and technology. Our goal is not only to enhance our team's diversity but also to ensure that all members feel genuinely included and valued. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team is not just an ethical imperative but also a strategic advantage that drives innovation and effectiveness in our mission to make healthcare accessible to underserved populations.

Our business model at Swasthya Samadhan revolves around providing accessible and affordable healthcare solutions to underserved populations in rural South Asia. We offer a user-friendly mobile application that delivers personalized healthcare advice in local languages through an AI-driven Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. Our key customers and beneficiaries are individuals in remote areas who lack access to quality healthcare services and information. By providing them with accurate medical guidance and connecting them with nearby healthcare facilities, we fulfill a critical need for health information and support. Our revenue model is based on partnerships with healthcare providers and organizations interested in reaching these communities, as well as potential premium features within the app. Additionally, we explore grant funding opportunities and social impact investments to support our mission of improving healthcare access and outcomes for marginalized populations.

Our strategy for achieving financial sustainability at Swasthya Samadhan involves a combination of revenue streams, including sustained donations and grants, selling premium features within the app, and securing sponsorships from hospitals and medical services. These sponsorships will allow these entities to advertise their services in specific locations on our waiting page and during the waiting time in the IVR call, providing them with targeted visibility while generating revenue to support our operations. Additionally, we aim to explore service contracts with governments and other healthcare organizations interested in leveraging our technology to improve healthcare access in underserved areas.