SA’s new accelerator programme to fast-track local health innovation

South Africa faces high rates in maternal and child mortality, HIV, tuberculosis, and other diseases. At the same time, there’s a lot of potential in the health and science industries which, with the right support, can help some of the country’s biggest issues.

In partnership between Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships (SHIP) and international non-profit PATH, the new South Africa-based Global Health Innovation Accelerator (GHIA) has recently launched. Its aim is to speed the development and introduction of sustainable, high-impact health technologies in South Africa and beyond.

With a focus on low-resource communities, the GHIA programme hopes to connect expertise, funding, and networks of global partners with local scientists and innovators to accelerate product development and introduction.

“The GHIA promotes a new paradigm for global health: tapping innovation wherever it is found to accelerate health solutions,” said Dr. Ayo Ajayi, PATH’s vice president of International Development.

“What makes the GHIA unique is its focus on strengthening homegrown innovation — whether from South Africa or elsewhere — to quickly bring new products to market. It combines South Africa’s innovation, expertise, and research capacity with PATH’s nearly 40 years of experience in breaking through barriers that can prevent lifesaving technologies from reaching those who need them,” Ajayi said.

The partnership will initially focus on advancing medical devices, diagnostics, and health tools for the most vulnerable women and children. The GHIA will support innovations by catalysing investment and ensuring they reach the most vulnerable local communities, as well as people in low-resource settings across the continent and around the globe.