Frugal Innovations: Global Case Studies

Many health systems across low and middle income countries are hotbeds for innovation, with critical health needs in these resource challenged settings driving the development of new models of care and technologies. As the United States struggles to balance affordability, quality, and access to care, particularly for its most vulnerable populations, health innovations arising in low and middle income countries represent a new source of ideas to address these challenges. Drawing from its global portfolio of frugal innovations, the International Partnership for Innovative Healthcare Delivery (IPIHD) will analyze three models of care that offer promising approaches for the U.S. health care system. These case studies will provide the Commonwealth Fund with greater understanding of the potential for frugal innovations to be replicated in the U.S. and will serve as a foundation for designing and implementing a U.S.-based frugal innovation pilot.