By Tasha Vernon, Technical Advisor II HIV & TB, PSI
Climate change reinforces the importance of self-care technologies.
Let us explain.
For centuries, people have practiced self-care to prevent disease, promote health, and manage illness, with and without the support of trained healthcare providers. While self-care can never fully replace the need for in-person support, self-care technologies – including diagnostics, devices, drugs, and digital health solutions – are equipping individuals to self-manage their health during (and beyond) climate-induced crises.
In partnership with UNITAID and CIFF, PSI shapes markets for self-care and establishing resilient supply chains, expanding access to healthcare by putting technologies directly in the hands of everyday people. Our work spans self-testing for HIV, hepatitis C and B, COVID-19, and pregnancy, self-injectable contraceptives, self-sampling for cervical cancer and STI screening, self-managed abortion, among other self-care technologies.
Examples of our work include:
Building robust markets for self-testing kits, enabling individuals to self-screen and self-monitor themselves for infectious diseases.
After Tropical Cyclone Freddy made landfall in Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique in 2023, PSI worked alongside national health systems and private sector clinics and pharmacies to scale self-care technologies, like HIV self-testing and telehealth. Self-testing kits (combined with digital solutions like telehealth) helped decrease infection risk and relieve overwhelmed healthcare facilities during the extreme weather event.
Delivering health services through telemedicine, e-pharmacy, e-commerce, and e-counseling.
Digital health and e-commerce platforms are bridging gaps in access to healthcare services during climate-induced disruptions, ensuring continuity of services and product delivery. These platforms have the potential to serve as broader tools for climate resilience. For instance, PSI’s e-commerce platforms can distribute essential goods such as medical supplies, water, and food during and after climate-related disasters. Additionally, e-pharmacies have the potential to reduce resource waste associated with the traditional pharmaceutical supply chain through inventory management, reducing overprescribing, and minimizing expired medications.
By promoting sustainable supply chains and integrating self-care technologies with telehealth services and e-commerce platforms, PSI’s self-care market shaping initiatives support continued access to essential healthcare services while aligning with climate-resilient practices, strengthening healthcare systems in the face of climate change.
As climate change progresses, PSI will continue to pioneer self-care technologies and market shaping. We are committed to addressing the challenges posed by climate change, supporting health systems in adapting and responding to the evolving needs of their clients and patients, bringing healthcare closer to those who need it.
Photo caption: A laboratory technician arranges blood samples prior to a screening.
