Reversing COVID-19 Effects: An mHealth Tool that Empowers Women to Improve Maternal Health and Maternity Care

*Source: Ministry of Health, Guerrero, Mexico.* 

## **Barriers to Healthcare Innovation Development by Countries of Differing Income Levels**

**Nikita Otstavnov1, David Naimzada1, Anastasiia Mikhailova2, Daniel Eike2, and Stanislav Otstavnov1** 1Graduate School of Business, High School of Economics, Moscow, Russia 2Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

A variety of common problems with healthcare innovation exist within different countries. Many countries

have conducted independent research about these obstacles. However, no international systematic review of problems has been conducted to link these issues with economic development. We hypothesized that countries of different income strata levels would be associated with different problems related to healthcare innovations. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a systematic review of publications on the problems and categorized them based on country income level. We conducted two systematic reviews of problems in healthcare innovation. We searched for relevant publications in Scopus to assess the international healthcare market (N = 267) and the Russian database (N = 181). Based on these articles, we obtained a set of problems and merged them into categories: 41 for Russia and 17 for the foreign market. We identified the most frequent problems in Russia (N = 5), then classified all the countries into three major categories: low and middle-income countries (LMI, N = 6), upper-middle-income countries (UMI, N=14), and high-income countries (HI, N = 18). Based on these categories, we identified the most frequent problems for each group and differentiated and compared them with Russian analysis. We identified three of the most common problems for HI counties (change and knowledge management, lack of management tools), three for UMI countries (education, finances, innovation process), and one for LMI countries (education). However, at least six identified problems were common between all three income categories: education, ethics, finances, infrastructure, management, and regulations. The primary difference between income categories was the nature of the identified problems. Comparison of the problem categories with Russian analysis allowed ensuring that countries of similar income share common problems. The nature of the most frequent problems in Russia corresponds with the UMI group. The results of our systematic review refute the hypothesis that the income level of countries is associated with different problems. It is not the problems themselves but their presentation that determines the country's innovative potential. Thus, for developing countries, it is potentially useful to apply solutions of the developed countries to solve existing problems.

Nikita Otstavnov1, David Naimzada1, Anastasiia Mikhailova2, Daniel Eike2, and Stanislav Otstavnov1

1Graduate School of Business, High School of Economics, Moscow, Russia 2 Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

#### Main Barriers for Development

#### Conclusion


#### Acknowledgments

This study has been supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant (Project No. 20-78-10157).

#### Introduction

A variety of common problems with healthcare innovation exist within different countries. Many countries have conducted independent research about these obstacles. However, no international systematic review of problems has been conducted to link these issues with economic development. We hypothesized that countries of different income strata levels will be associated with different problems related to healthcare innovations. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a systematic review of publications regarding the problems and categorized them based on country income level.

#### Methods

We conducted two systematic reviews of problems in healthcare innovation. We searched for relevant publications in Scopus for assessing the international healthcare market (N = 267), and in the Russian database (N = 181).

#### Results

Sixteen international key problems were identified (see Figure A).

#### Limitations

