mHealth Mobile Communication for Health

1
mHealth Mobile Communication for Health ECOSOC
Africa Regional Ministerial Meeting on eHealth
Claire Thwaites 11 June 09
2
mHealth for Development Report
mHealth for Development Report The report is one
of the most extensive surveys of the use of
mobile technology to advance public health in the
developing world, with over 50 examples of
projects providing health-related services via
mobile technology.Found at www.unfoundation.org
/vodafone
1
3
Opportunity New Health Delivery
PlatformExplosion of Mobile Phones in the
Developing World
Technologies and Health-Related Statistics for
Developing Countries (Millions)
Mobile Phones reach further into developing
countries than other technology and health
infrastructures
Photos DataDyne
Sources Vital Wave Consulting, Business Monitor
International, International Telecommunications
Union and the World Banks World Development
Indicators
2
Photo
4
Meeting Health NeedsBroad Array of mHealth
Applications
Education Awareness SMS/text messaging in
support of public health and behavioral change
campaigns.
Remote Data Collection Applications using mobile
devices to collect real-time patient data, often
where patients live.
Remote Monitoring Maintain care giver
appointments or ensure medication regime
adherence via one-way or two-way communication on
mobile devices.
Diagnostic Treatment Support Use the mobile
phone as point-of-care device.
Communication Training For Health Care
Workers Connect health workers with sources of
information via mobile technology.
Disease Epidemic Outbreak Tracking Use mobile
devices to send and receive data on disease
incidence, outbreaks and public health
emergencies.
Programs by Application Area
3
5
Impact of mHealth Initiatives Benefits in
Patient Health Health Systems Outcomes

• Patient Health Outcomes
• Effectiveness Gains
• Improved disease management
• Improved public awareness of communicable
  diseases
• Improved medication compliance
• Health Systems Outcomes
• Efficiency Gains
• Services delivered at reduced cost, increased
  speed and accuracy

Photo DataDyne
4
6
Building Sustainable Scalable mHealth Programs

• Policy Makers
• Define an mHealth policy and provide incentives
• Operators
• Combine mHealth with delivery of other mServices
• Leverage handset maker relationships
• Be pro-active in developing joint solutions
• Enhance mHealth infrastructure
• NGOs
• For best results, think big and join forces
• Consider Public / Private Partnerships
• Provide proof of concept by using the simplest
  available technology
• Funders
• Ensure project sustainability
• Provide resources for impact assessment

Photo RAMP and ENACQKT
5
7
The mHealth Alliance
Mission

• Be the global facilitation body for mHealth that
  enables maximum innovation and impact by
  providing
• Thought Leadership
• Global Advocacy
• Project Engagement
• to advance adoption of open and extensible
  health eco-systems from which any stakeholder
  could benefit

6
8
Thank you
mHealth report at www.unfoundation.org/vodafone em
ail at cthwaites_at_unfoundation.org