The Global Health Innovation Grants (GHIG) program focuses on fostering the growth and scale of health-focused innovations and social entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through one-year grants. Since 2016, IiH has worked with grantees to identify metrics that align with their project objectives and activities. Analyzing this data, IiH provides an assessment of the portfolio in each cohort, as well as over time, to identify areas for improvement for the program. This case study is one of six from the GHIG9 grantee cohort.
Simprints is a nonprofit technology company that has worked in 19 countries to date to bring biometric identification to last-mile health settings.
It was founded in 2015 when Toby Norman and Alexandra Grigore, Simprints’ co-founders, observed the problematic link between unreliable paper-based patient health record-keeping and verification of health service delivery in Bangladesh. They sought to provide patients with a secure digital identity with the goal of ensuring that every vaccine, every dollar, and every public good reaches those who need them most. To support patient identification and verified service delivery, Simprints developed the first open-source biometric ID platform. Through an impact-driven model, its work advances Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being), with links to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
As a recipient of the 9th Global Health Innovation Grant (GHIG9), Simprints shows how an AI-powered digital health ID can become digital public infrastructure through verified service delivery, clear costs, and government partnerships.