Interface Health Society, a not-for-profit digital health organization based in Vancouver, BC, has officially launched Interface Health, which is a global digital health accelerator and online community. The accelerator is a place for digital health innovators to find the resources they need, anytime, anywhere. That means faster access, reduced costs, improved experiences and better outcomes for everybody. Interface Health is an integrated multi-platform consisting of an annual global competition, a social network and an annual summit.
Michael Bidu, founder and CEO of Interface Health says: “Currently, there is no one place in Canada (or globally, for that matter), where researchers, innovators, commercial partners and consumers can come together, online or on their smart phones, to discover innovations, connect with one another and share ideas and opportunities.”
“Interface Health will save time and money for everyone in the digital health space by empowering patients and consumers, and by making it easier and faster for innovators to find and connect with resources, expertise and capital. It can help healthcare systems to be sustainable at local, regional and global levels.”
Currently, healthcare systems in Canada and around the world are struggling to remain affordable, sustainable and accessible, despite the ever rising costs of new medicines and technologies, and the growing numbers of senior citizens the systems must serve. Interface Health will help position BC and Canada as world centers of excellence in digital health.
“BC and other regions of Canada have thriving digital health sectors. There are more than 100 digital health companies in BC alone, with more springing up every day. But they are not well-connected to one another, or to the rest of the world. Interface Health is going to change that in a big way,” says Mr. Bidu.
Interface Health has already garnered support from companies and organizations in Canada with strong interest in digital health. Those include TELUS, Ayogo Health, Genome BC, Providence Healthcare, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, BC Innovation Council, NRC/IRAP, NSERC and Western Economic Diversification Canada. Acclaimed digital health guru John Nosta recently praised the Interface Health model, calling it “the world’s first truly global digital health accelerator.”
Shortly after the launch of its site www.interfacehealth.com, Interface Health also plans to
announce details of an international digital health competition.