Frugal Sciences
Working towards a low-cost ostomy bag that doesn't leak
We visited the Ostomy Bag Association in India to gain insights into existing solutions and the challenges faced by patients.
We shadowed ostomy care experts across diverse settings, from rural areas in India to major urban centers like Delhi and Mumbai
We visited multiple pharmacies to trace the distribution of ostomy bags and understand their reach
We visited multiple pharmacies to trace the distribution of ostomy bags and understand their reach
Problem
Ostomy bags are a daily medical necessity for roughly 15 million people globally who have had a section of intestinal tract removed, resulting in the intestine being rerouted through the abdomen where waste is ejected via a stoma. These bags adhere to a section of skin surrounding the stoma via an annular adhesive bandage, collecting waste and shielding the stoma from the broader environment. This serves to reduce infection while minimizing changes to the daily life of the patient. However, these bags are expensive making them inaccessible for lots of people, especially in underdeveloped countries. Also, the bags often delaminate from the skin, causing problematic leaks which lead to skin irritation and poor quality of life.
Process
Spent 1 month in India shadowing doctors and nurses in Hospitals in rural India (Anantapur) as well as big cities (Mumbai, New Delhi, Agra).
Received some funding from the Frugal Sciences Challenge Grant
Duration of the project: 1 month
Team members: Dr. Manu Prakash, Mario Garcia, Ben Foster