The Digital Solutions for building High-Value Health Systems in Latin America Hackathon is the third health systems innovation hackathon organized by the Harvard University Health Systems Innovation Lab, Fundação Getulio Vargas, Universidad del Rosario, and the Rio Grande do Sul HSIL. This event will take place on April 20th and 21st, 2023 and participants will be able to join remotely or in-person at the following institutions:
| Harvard School of Public Health | Boston, USA |
| Fundação Getulio Vargas | Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| Universidad del Rosario | Bogota, Colombia |
| Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Ministerio del Salud del Perú | Lima, Peru |
The hackathon will focus on two tracks: cancer and cardiovascular diseases and will bring together innovators, persons involved in startups, university students from undergraduate and graduate programs, postgraduates and researchers in the Americas and all over the world from multiple disciplines to develop innovative solutions that address their country’s priorities.
Background
Despite ratifying the Roadmap for the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector in the Region of the Americas in 2021, Latin America and the Caribbean still lag in implementing digital solutions in health systems. Only 11 countries in the region have laws that define and validate electronic health record systems, and only 14 of the 26 countries analyzed in a recent study from the Inter-American Development Bank on digital health have a digital health strategy. The region’s health information systems are isolated, fragmented, underfunded, and underused.
Digital solutions have the potential to support health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce medical errors and make better decisions, improve patient empowerment through information, self-care, and access, and improve health systems by supporting coordinated health care within the public sector and between the public and private sectors.
The solutions will vary from country to country based on the needs, resources, and healthcare system, but all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean should address the core issues outlined in the call for inclusive digital health.
Objectives
| Bring together multidisciplinary teams of innovators to collaborate and develop innovative digital solutions that addresses the country priorities | Showcase the potential of digital solutions to improve healthcare in Latin America and support the transition of health systems to high-value systems |
Participants
The target audience for the hackathon is innovators, persons involved in startups, university students from undergraduate and graduate programs, postgraduates and researchers in the US, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Teams of 3-5 participants are welcome to register, as well as individuals that would like to be paired with other talented individuals looking for a diverse team.
Click here to download a handbook about what to expect in our hackathon.
Format
The hackathon will be hosted over two days in a hybrid in-person/zoom format, with participating teams joining in-person or virtually. The Harvard University Health Systems Innovation Lab will host the event with support from other partners including Movimiento Salud 2030 and the Global Innovation Hub for Value in Healthcare. The format will include workshops, mentorship sessions, and presentations of the final ideas.
Prizes
The hackathon, through our partners and co-host institutions, will distribute USD 15,000 in prizes among the finalist teams. Additionally, the finalist teams will have the chance to develop their solution further with the support of the hackathon partners. All participants will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions and receive feedback from experts in the field.
Why should you participate?
The “Digital Solutions for building High-Value Health Systems in Latin America” hackathon represents a unique opportunity for individuals interested in health innovation to develop innovative solutions that can improve health systems in Latin America. By bringing together multidisciplinary teams and providing mentorship and resources, the hackathon aims to showcase the potential of digital solutions to improve healthcare in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on the country’s priorities.
Registration is open! Click the link below to register.
Deadline extended to March 30, 2023.