Sandoz, a division of Novartis, has selected six finalists for the Sandoz HACk Healthcare Access Challenge.
The event urged young developers to submit novel, mobile-technology solutions for achieving better health care access in their countries. Close to 150 applicants from more than 30 countries delivered potential solutions.
One of the finalists, Mohamed Shuraih, hopes to use a blood-donation app to connect blood donors in the Maldives through social media and an incentive reward program. Through the app, Shuraih wants to help ease the burden of Thalassemia in his country.
“The app helps to find donation centers, shows a person's donation schedule, or sends push notifications when donors are urgently needed in emergency situations,” Shuraih said in a statement.
Shuraih noticed that awareness of Thalassemia is strong, but that people do not always know how to reach out and connect in emergency situations to help get new donors. But he noticed the young people in the nation are active on social media.
“So my idea is to seize this opportunity,” Shuraih said. “Through the app, donors can set goals and share updates with friends on social media or earn badges.”
Shuraih, a 25-year old app developer, is one of the six finalists hoping to win monetary prices to fund their projects.
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