Access to healthcare is a key barrier preventing people in the developing world from breaking the cycle of poverty -- something charity Pace 4 Life hopes to help with. Based in the UK, the organization recycles donated pacemakers that would otherwise get thrown out and gives them to patients in poorer parts of the world, like Ghana and India.
Pace 4 Life specifically reuses pacemakers that are removed prior to cremation, preventing the medical devices from cluttering the cupboards of mortuary technicians and funeral directors or going to waste. Before they are reused, the pacemakers are rested for 70% battery life or more. They are then sterilized and implanted in new patients that wouldn't otherwise be able to afford the costly gadget.
Recycled Pacemaker Charities
Pace 4 Life Reuses Donated Pacemakers in the Developing World
Trend Themes
1. Recycled Pacemakers - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring the potential for recycling and reusing pacemakers to address healthcare barriers in developing countries.
2. Access to Healthcare - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing innovative solutions to overcome the barrier of limited healthcare access in the developing world.
3. Affordable Medical Devices - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating cost-effective medical devices to improve accessibility for patients in poorer parts of the world.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implementing sustainable practices and initiatives within the healthcare industry to address global healthcare challenges.
2. Medical Device Manufacturing - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Designing and manufacturing medical devices that are affordable and suitable for resource-constrained settings.
3. Charitable Organizations - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Leveraging technology and innovation to optimize the impact of charitable organizations in addressing global health disparities.