Medical products & technologies
In many parts of the world, essential medical products are still out of reach. We’re changing that.
Our work on Medical products and technologies (MPT) is focused on ensuring that healthcare systems are able to deploy safe, effective, and context-relevant tools for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment at the primary care level.
We focus on scalable, affordable innovations designed for low-resource settings. From oxygen delivery systems to newborn care tools and maternal health solutions, we invest in bold ideas that are closing critical gaps in care.
Our focus
Oxygen access: Even after COVID-19 highlighted the urgency of oxygen access, over 30% of health facilities in sub-Saharan Africa still face regular oxygen shortages, and 25% have no access at all (WHO, 2021). We’re building a stronger oxygen ecosystem across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), investing in science, systems, and scalable business models to expand reliable access where it’s needed most.
Maternal, newborn, and reproductive health technologies: From delivery room innovations to low-cost diagnostics, we back technologies that improve outcomes for women and their babies.
Cross-cutting health technologies: As a shared resource across our portfolios, MPT supports other innovation areas by identifying products that align with their goals and accelerate their impact.
Portfolio highlights
To date, we’ve made well over 300 investments in medical projects and technologies at seed and Transition to Scale stages across our portfolios. Notable innovations include:
- Vayu (Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia): Simplified delivery systems for essential newborn respiratory care.
- FREO2 (Uganda): Reliable oxygen solutions in areas with unstable electricity.
- Hewa Tele (Kenya): A public-private model for oxygen production and distribution.
- Birthtech (Brazil) and Kybele (Ghana): Tools to improve maternal outcomes during childbirth.
- Simbona (Ethiopia) and Maziwa (Kenya): Locally relevant innovations spanning diagnostics to supply chains.
What’s next
We’re scaling what works and testing new models that can drive even greater impact. Our goal is to help build health systems that can deliver quality care, no matter the setting.
Interested in learning more or exploring partnership opportunities? Get in touch with our partnerships team at partnerships@grandchallenges.ca.
