Development of a model for new industry formation in Bhutan leveraging digital health infrastructure

Development of a model for new industry formation in Bhutan leveraging digital health infrastructure

Kingdom of Bhutan
(Potential expansion to other regions, such as India, with Bhutan as the starting point)

In Bhutan, non-communicable diseases are on the rise, and the sustainability of publicly provided free healthcare is becoming uncertain. With the youth unemployment rate exceeding 20%, creating new industries—including in the health sector—remains a major challenge.

Through JICA’s “Project for Strengthening Government Capacity for Using Digital Technology and Data,” a pilot of a Digital Health Platform (DHP) is underway. The DHP links medical data—including electronic medical records from all hospitals—behavioral data, living environment data, and household data to the national ID. As a result, integrated analysis across multiple data sources is becoming technically feasible, and the establishment of a biobank linked to this is also being considered. However, the social implementation of preventive healthcare models that leverage this integrated data, as well as the formation of a new industrial ecosystem in which domestic and international companies and research institutions can participate, are still in their early stages.

The following are examples; flexible proposals are welcome. To create new industries in Bhutan, we recommend that a consortium of multiple companies and research institutions, working with local actors, consider several concrete business plans without being fixed on specific technologies.

• Design of Health and Prevention Models Using Integrated Data 
  Based on medical, behavioral, and lifestyle/environmental data, examine model options and business concepts for risk stratification, behavior change, and the design of preventive interventions.
• Small-Scale, On-Site Validation of Lifestyle Improvement and Behavior Change 
  Pilot light-touch interventions in sleep, diet, activity levels, and stress management; use paper mockups and simple prototypes to gauge user responses and acceptability.
• Small-Scale Trials of Novel Sensing Technologies
  Beyond blood pressure monitors and mainstream wearables, pilot new sensing devices targeting stress, respiration, sleep, eating behavior, and the gut environment.
• Co-creation of Bhutan-origin health services and research themes Combine characteristics such as Gross National Happiness and dietary habits with health data and data on biological resources accumulated at Bhutan’s National Biodiversity Centre to explore future service design and business potential, including health foods.

Note: We also welcome pilot proposals not listed above, as long as they contribute to solving the stated challenges.

We welcome proposals in the form of analyses/reports that can lead to concrete business implementation in the following fields, regardless of whether devices are involved.

• Expertise in medical AI, behavior change AI, and analysis of lifestyle data
•  Track record in applying preventive and lifestyle-improvement services, UX design, and behavioral science
•  New sensing technologies (e.g., stress, respiration, sleep, eating behavior, gut environment)
• Knowledge related to R&D and productization of pharmaceuticals, supplements, and health foods
• Experience collaborating in emerging countries and with local communities is desirable

Note: We also accept achievements and expertise other than those listed above, as long as they contribute to solving the stated challenges.

• PoC Environment Leveraging the DHP
• Connections with relevant institutions in Bhutan (Ministry of Health, GovTech, national hospitals, medical university, National Biodiversity Centre, government-affiliated investment bank, pharmaceutical and health food manufacturers and startups) and with community health workers
• Support for local coordination and data integration/linkage

Aichi (on-site pitch), Fukuoka(on-site pitch), Tokyo(on-site pitch)