The idea for Open Channel Projects began with a simple act: donating an ultrasound machine to Bayalpata Hospital in far-western Nepal. Bayalpata Hospital is an incredible organization providing lifesaving care that serves a large catchment area with free healthcare. The hospital's skilled medical officers had the expertise to perform ultrasounds but were limited by equipment. This initiative stemmed from one of our co-founders' experiences at Bayalpata as an emergency medicine physician, where he collaborated with the Bayalpata Hospital team on expanding pre-hospital trauma care.

As he witnessed the challenges some large non-profits face in supporting smaller, targeted projects that originate at the local level and can deliver immediate healthcare improvements, the concept of Open Channel Projects began to take shape. 

 

This vision solidified at the Mae Tao Clinic along the Myanmar-Thai border, where he partnered with local healthcare providers to support the development of an emergency care unit.

These formative experiences inspired our guiding principles: championing innovative, community-led healthcare initiatives. We focus on building healthcare capacity and improving emergency care by collaborating with local healthcare providers and public health organizations deeply connected to their communities. Our commitment to bidirectional knowledge exchange ensures that we not only share our expertise but also learn from those best positioned to drive lasting change and advance health equity in the regions we serve.