Research
– Gender Study & Scale-up
Addressing Gender Disparities
Our research focuses on understanding and addressing gender disparities in healthcare access, particularly in rural and underserved areas. We are investigating how telemedicine can improve healthcare access for all, with a specific emphasis on overcoming the unique barriers that women and adolescent girls face, such as traditional gender roles, household responsibilities, and financial or travel restrictions. By studying and implementing telemedicine programs in Nepal and Mali, we aim to provide valuable insights into how digital health solutions can improve access to timely, high-quality care for disadvantaged populations.
In picture: 1) Sanikshya Rai, Data Collector, Gender Study 2) Gita Khewa Gurung, Deputy Mayor, Chhathar Jorpati Municipality 3) Chhatra Bahadur Subba, Mayor, Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality 4) Anish Bhattarai 5) Sundar Man Dangol, Health Coordinator, Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality
Facilitating Access to Care
In Nepal and Mali, our pilot programs provide teleconsultation services across six rural health facilities in each country—implemented by B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Eastern Nepal and CERTES in the Sikasso region of Mali. In both locations, we are collecting data to evaluate the impact on clinical outcomes, economic benefits, and patient satisfaction. The goal is to identify key gender-based differences and use this data to enhance healthcare delivery for women and men in rural areas.
Scale-up in Mali and Nepal
These pilot projects inform a larger scale-up. In Nepal, telemedicine services will be expanded to 100 hospitals and health centers across 14 districts in Koshi Province, while in Mali, the expansion will reach 100 healthcare facilities across 10 regions, leveraging the existing national teledermatology network. This scale-up aims to empower policymakers and healthcare providers with actionable data to address gender inequities and improve access to healthcare services for vulnerable populations.
We are excited to share these insights and look forward to using them to drive meaningful change.
Muddy road to Hattikharka. It takes more than an hour to cover 7 kilometers. People travel on the rooftop of pickups, which run very limited times during the day.