Smita Dange

Indian healthcare innovator creating affordable medical solutions for rural populations

Dr. Smita Dange, a Mumbai-based biomedical engineer, pioneered the development of low-cost medical devices through her organization Affordable HealthTech Solutions. Since 2020, she has developed life-saving innovations like the $50 neonatal incubator and portable ECG devices that operate on solar power. These innovations have been deployed in over 1,200 rural health centers across India by 2023, reducing infant mortality rates by 37% in implementation areas.

Her World Economic Forum recognized 'Frugal Innovation' model inspired similar programs in Bangladesh and Nepal. During the pandemic, Dange's team adapted their technology to create mobile ICU units that provided critical care to 500,000+ patients in underserved regions. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3, demonstrating how localized engineering can democratize access to healthcare. Current projects include a smartphone-based telemedicine platform using AI diagnostics, already serving 2 million+ patients monthly.