Project Summary
The STRATEGIC project is an EU-funded initiative aimed at fostering responsible research and innovation (RRI) within the realm of digital health technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This project acknowledges the critical need to align digital health technology development with the social-cultural values, principles, contexts, needs, and interests of communities in SSA. It proposes to enhance the ethical and regulatory frameworks necessary for the responsible implementation of these technologies in clinical research and practice.
Key Objectives of the STRATEGIC Project:
Co-create RRI Approaches: Collaboratively work with SSA and EU partners and stakeholders to develop approaches that integrate social-cultural values and ethical standards into digital health technologies.
Strengthen Ethics and Regulatory Capacities: Develop and implement capacity development plans aimed at enhancing the ethics and regulatory structures to oversee digital health technologies effectively.
Develop and Integrate Training Materials: Create functional resources, like STRATEGIC training materials, tailored to the specific needs identified within SSA. These materials will be integrated into existing training infrastructures to promote widespread knowledge and adherence to ethical practices.
Address Gaps in Ethical and Legal Infrastructure: Through the identification and mapping of existing ethical and legal frameworks in SSA, the project aims to pinpoint and address critical gaps, enhancing the overall governance of digital health technologies.
Foster a Sustainable E-Community: Establish a sustainable online community that persists beyond the project's lifespan, facilitating ongoing dialogue, learning, and development in the field of digital health ethics and regulation.
Methodologies and Strategies:
Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including ethics and regulatory bodies, healthcare professionals, and communities, to ensure the approaches and materials developed are relevant and impactful.
Co-creation Strategies: Utilizing co-creation strategies such as focus groups, consensus workshops, and roundtable discussions to collaboratively design RRI approaches and training materials.
The urgency for this project stems from the rapid integration of digital technologies in healthcare within SSA and the potential for negative impacts on patients and communities due to insufficient ethical and legal oversight. By building on the collaborative efforts of SSA and EU partners, the STRATEGIC project aims to establish a robust framework that ensures the responsible development and implementation of digital health technologies, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes and ethical standards in SSA.