Health Systems Engineering
Lecturer: Mrs Imke de Kock
The primary aim of the Health Systems Engineering and Innovation research group is to improve access to primary healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa. The following research themes have been established:
• Infrastructure and delivery network design: How can we ensure that the right kind of infrastructure and delivery network design is put in place? How can we ensure that this is sustainable?
• Operations: How can we improve healthcare delivery operations to increase effectiveness and efficiency with the ultimate goal of improved utilisation of finite resources to improve access?
• Technology transfer and innovation: How can we develop and utilise innovations and adopt technologies to reduce costs of, facilitate and improve access to primary healthcare?
• Healthcare policy and finance: How can we consider the design of government policies and support mechanisms to improve access to primary healthcare in Southern Africa?
• Supply and distribution: How can we improve the effectiveness and efficiency of supply chains and distribution networks to get the necessary resources, medicines and treatments to healthcare facilities and people?
Health Systems Engineering and Innovation
Lecturer: Dr Louzanne Bam
My research focus is on public healthcare systems. Specifically, I am interested in (i) supporting decision-making with regards to the operational and/or strategic management of public healthcare; and (ii) improving the effectiveness of healthcare operations (thus, maximising the impact of the resources that are devoted to healthcare). The majority of my research activity is in quantitative modelling to support improvements in: supply and distribution; operations and infrastructure and delivery network design. Additional research activity is in supporting the development of healthcare policy (primarily through the development and evaluation of alternative scenarios for healthcare provision).
The topics listed below are merely indicative – I develop a topic in collaboration with each student bearing in mind: (i) their interests and abilities; (ii) the requirements of an MEng; (iii) salient public healthcare challenges; and (iv) research momentum and expertise within the research group.
Health Systems Engineering
Lecturer: Prof Sara Grobbelaar
The primary aim of the Health Systems Engineering and Innovation research group is to improve access to primary healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa. Professor Grobbelaar focuses specifically on the following research themes in the healthcare context:
Technology transfer and innovation: How can we develop and utilise innovations and adopt technologies to reduce costs of, facilitate and improve access to primary healthcare?
• Health Innovation Systems in the developing world: How can we strengthen the capacity of the healthcare innovation system and public health systems to effectively develop, adopt and diffuse new technologies?
• Enterprise and industry for healthcare innovation: Innovation for establishing and strengthening healthcare value chains, innovation platforms, technology management, change management and planning
• Validation and feasibility of health technologies: The development and validation of technology, products and the development of business cases and business models for healthcare innovation and adoption within public health systems
Supply and distribution: How can we improve the effectiveness and efficiency of supply chains and distribution networks to get the necessary resources, medicines and treatments to healthcare facilities and people? Here we specifically focus on supply chain visibility and the role of innovation and technology platforms to achieve this.
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