How does International Finance Corporation (IFC) improves medical technology and contribute to the development of the hospital of the future through financing? 

The IFC recognizes the importance of healthcare in promoting sustainable economic growth, improving living standards, and addressing global health challenges. Investing in medical technology and innovative hospital infrastructure is aligned with the IFC's mission to alleviate poverty and boost shared prosperity.

Here are several ways the IFC can support the improvement of medical technology and the hospital of the future through finance:

1. Direct investment: The IFC provides long-term loans, equity investments, and quasi-equity instruments to healthcare companies, including those focused on medical technology and innovative hospital infrastructure. These investments can promote the development and commercialization of cutting-edge medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health solutions, as well as the construction and operation of state-of-the-art hospitals.
2. Venture capital: The IFC invests in early-stage medical technology companies through its venture capital arm. These investments, typically made as equity or convertible debt, can support the growth of start-ups developing disruptive healthcare technologies, enabling them to scale up and improve healthcare delivery in developing countries.
3. Syndicated loans: The IFC can act as a lead arranger in syndicated loan transactions, pooling resources from multiple financial institutions to provide large-scale financing for medical technology companies and hospital projects. This approach allows the IFC to share risks and mobilize additional private sector capital for projects with significant capital requirements.
4. Risk-sharing facilities: The IFC can establish risk-sharing facilities to provide partial credit guarantees or risk-sharing arrangements for medical technology companies and hospital projects. These facilities help reduce risks for lenders, making it more attractive for them to provide financing to these types of projects.
5. Advisory services: The IFC offers advisory services to governments and private sector entities involved in medical technology and hospital projects. These services may include technical assistance, capacity building, policy advice, and support in creating an enabling environment for investments in healthcare innovation and infrastructure.
6. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): The IFC can help structure and finance PPPs for medical technology and hospital projects that involve collaboration between governments and private sector partners. These partnerships can mobilize private capital, expertise, and innovation to deliver essential healthcare services, cutting-edge medical technologies, and modern hospital infrastructure.
7. Blended finance: The IFC works with other development finance institutions, multilateral organizations, and private sector partners to create blended finance structures. These structures combine concessional (lower-cost) funding with commercial financing to support medical technology and hospital projects that may be perceived as high-risk or have a significant development impact.
8. Thematic bonds: The IFC issues thematic bonds, such as social bonds, to raise capital for projects addressing specific development challenges. Proceeds from these bonds can be used to finance medical technology and hospital projects that contribute to sustainable development goals, such as improving healthcare access and quality.

In summary, the International Finance Corporation employs a variety of financial instruments and partnerships to support the improvement of medical technology and the development of the hospital of the future. Through financing, the IFC aims to foster innovation, improve healthcare delivery, and promote sustainable economic growth.

Health financing systems

are critical for reaching exceptional health coverage. We advocate for Proposes and typologies of healthcare financing and insurance schemes, based on the dimensions of basic vs. supplementary services and mandatory vs. voluntary coverage.