Unfortunately, nothing brings health technologies and Public Health policies to humanity’s collective attention like the threat of an emerging pandemic.

In response to the spreading outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Founder Institute has published best practice strategies that businesses can put in place to help stop the spread, and is calling upon companies that have developed their own coronavirus management plan or guidelines to upload that information to the open-source repository on our Global Health Hub, so that others around the world can benefit from the work of the most prepared organizations. 

One question we hear constantly from early-stage social entrepreneurs is,

How should I measure impact, or gather data to quantify the net-good actually created by my social impact company?

To help social entrepreneurs answer this critical question, we’ve created a list of impact metrics for consistently measuring and reporting on the impact created from public health or health technology companies. 

These metrics are adapted directly from the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and demonstrate clear benchmarks recognized by leading global authorities as key performance indicators for success in these critical areas: 

Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health & Well-Being

By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births:

1. Reduction in maternal mortality: measure mortality rate among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus overall local rate. (Multiply by number of total users to estimate lives saved.)

2. Measure proportion of births attended or overseen by skilled health personnel among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus overall local rate.

By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.

3. Measure mortality rate among children under 5 years (per 1000 live births) among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus overall local population. (Multiply proportional difference by number of total users to estimate lives saved.)

4. Measure proportional reduction of mortality rate among neonatal children (per 1000 live births) among users/beneficiaries of a product or service, versus overall local rates. (Multiply by number of total users to estimate neonatal lives saved.) 

By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

5. Measure reduction in number of new HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, or Hepatitis B population infections among users/beneficiaries of a product or service, versus overall local population rates. (Multiply proportional difference by number of total users to estimate lives saved.)

By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

6. Difference in mortality rates attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory disease among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus overall local rates. (Multiply proportional difference by number of total users to estimate lives saved.)

7. Difference in the suicide mortality rate among users/beneficiaries of a product or service, versus local population overall. (Multiply proportional difference by number of total users to estimate lives saved.) 

Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

8. Measure reported increases in the number of individuals with access to treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial, and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders through deployment of product or service.

9. Sample to measure reported reduction in per capita (personal) alcohol consumption (defined according to the national context as alcohol per capita consumption within a calendar year in litres of pure alcohol) among users/beneficiaries of product or service. (Multiply average reported difference between users before versus after use of product or service, or versus local population rates overall, by number of total users to estimate reduction in alcohol consumed.)

Halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.

10.  Measure reduction in mortality rates due to road traffic injuries among users/beneficiaries of product or service (surveying), versus local population rates overall. (Multiply proportional difference by number of total users to estimate lives saved.) 

By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.

11.  Measure the proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their needs for family planning satisfied with modern methods (as defined by the World Health Organization) among the users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local population rates overall. (Multiply proportional difference by number of total users to estimate total women positively impacted.)

12.  Measure of adolescent birth rates (aged 10 – 19 years) of women in that age group among product or service users/beneficiaries, versus overall local population rates. (Multiply proportional difference by number of total users to estimate reduction in number of adolescent births.) 

Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.

13.  Survey to measure the number of people with access to “affordable” essential health services, among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall. (Multiply proportion difference of people spending < 20% of total household expenditure on essential health services by total number of users to estimate total lives measurably impacted.)

14.  Count number of disabled, disadvantaged or people suffering from rare or underserved medical conditions that are introduced to more affordable and effective alternative treatments as users/beneficiaries of product or service. 

By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

15.  Measure reduction in the mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall. (Multiply proportional difference in mortality rates by number of users to estimate number of lives saved.)

16.  Measure reduction in mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation and lack of hygiene among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall. (Multiply proportional difference in mortality rates by number of users to estimate number of lives saved.) 

Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and noncommunicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries;

provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health; and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.

17.  Measure proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programs among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall.

18.  Measure proportion of health facilities that have a core set of relevant essential medicines available on an affordable and sustainable basis among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall. (Multiple differences in rates by number of patients visiting beneficiary facilities to estimate number of lives positively impacted.)

Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in the least developed countries and small island developing States.

19.  Measure increase in number of qualified health workers, or their localized density or distribution, among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall, versus historic data.

20.  Measure retention rates of qualified health workers among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall.

Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.

21.  Measure increases in effectiveness of global health warning management frameworks according to local and national definitions among users/beneficiaries of product or service, versus local rates overall or previously, or a previously comparable geography. 

If you’re an entrepreneur building a social or environmental impact company to address a global challenge, join us and apply to the Founder Institute today.  

Do you have an idea for a healthcare or global health social impact startup?  If you want direct feedback from FI HQ, you can submit your idea to be featured on our next Unfiltered podcast episode!

Founder Institute portfolio companies are creating positive social and environmental impact around the world, using structured processes to define impact KPIs that scale sustainably with their business. Read the most recent featured reports on our impact companies at FI.co/good, or learn about the Founder Institute's own global impact at FI.co/impact.