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Of fetishes and

technology

Professor Vishaal Kishore

Professor of Innovation & Public Policy

Policy & Impact Team

The human face of health innovation

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Fetish

/ˈfɛtɪʃ; ˈfiːtɪʃ/

Something, especially an inanimate object, that

is believed to be the embodiment or habitation of

a spirit or magical powers

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Fetish

/ˈfɛtɪʃ; ˈfiːtɪʃ/

Any object, activity, etc., to which one is

excessively or irrationally devoted

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Obsessive focus on

one thing

Inherent powers of

inanimate objects

• Rolling out an EMR will create

massive innovation

• Creating an innovation hub in a

hospital will change care

• Setting up an accelerator creates

a startup ecosystem

• The onward march of science

and technology is ‘autonomous’

• Technology = gadgets and

software

• Apps define the horizon of

innovation

• STEM education as the sole

pathway to innovation

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Obsessive focus on

one thing

Inherent powers of

inanimate objects

People change health systems,

sometimes with technology

Innovation and change is

holistic – ‘technology’ is only

part of the story

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Moral of the story

Healthcare innovation – and technology – emerge from human

creativity and ingenuity

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Moral of the story

The path of technology development is political and public as

well as ‘scientific’

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Moral of the story

‘Technology’ is not the only pathway to radical healthcare

improvement