HEDI
What is HEDI?
The Health Equity Diagnostic Infrastructure (HEDI) is the Phase 2 initiative of the Rare Advocacy Movement (RAM). The HEDI initiative aims to establish access to a healthcare infrastructure designed specifically to address the complex issues experienced by a life-altering and/or life-threatening rare health condition with efficient and accurate diagnostic and clinical services.
Starting in Africa, Asia and Central America
Over 400 million people across the globe are expected to have either been born with a rare disease or to have acquired a rare disease during their lives. Approximately 10,000 rare diseases have currently been identified with 72% of them being genetic in origin. Unfortunately, not every person living with a rare disease has access to diagnostic services; without which they are unable to seek appropriate treatment for often debilitating conditions. The lack of efficient diagnostic infrastructures has not only impacted the lives of several patients and their loved ones, but also compromises the advancement of research and development.
The HEDI initiative is a collaborative effort hosted by RAM. Together with a diverse team of internationally based experts (including but not limited to healthcare specialists, leaders in diagnostics, academia, business operations, research, etc.), RAM is leading the charge in partnership with Rare Love Ventures, through the Rare360 program.
In an effort to complete the HEDI initiative, RAM continues to partner with stakeholders that are uniquely positioned to serve the needs of the global rare disease community through comprehensively designed diagnostic and clinical services and therapeutic research and development programs. HEDI seeks to effectively address the global human health data crisis and provide researchers with responsible and equitable access to human health data without exploiting patients from regions that have otherwise been marginalized, beginning with Africa, Asia, and Central America.
RAM seeks to empower people within the rare disease community through novel, sustainable, and conscious initiatives to give every person living with a debilitating rare disease a chance at life, regardless of socioeconomic status.