mHealth specifics and projects
ePlatform on mHealth
July 2010
These pages offer information on the current use and potential of mHealth in developing countries. One of the barriers to wider use of mobile devices is a lack of easy access to information and knowledge on what is working and how, and under which circumstances. This Platform aims to fill this gap.
In this 1st Phase, we have focused on making different types of electronic information from various sources available, providing a searchable resource library as well as mHealth project information.
The searchable Portal section provides links to documents, presentations and audio-visuals on mHealth, focusing on low and middle income countries in Africa & Middle East, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. It draws on open, subscription and informal sources, including key academic databases and grey literature. It contains links to more than 200 documents pertaining to mHealth in general, and key application areas specifically: education and information dissemination, patient helplines, adherence, remote monitoring, diagnostic support and training of healthcare workers in remote areas, data collection and disease surveillance. This material gives insights into various approaches aiming to improve health by using mobile devices and includes discussion papers that address lessons learned and evidence gaps identified. Resources can be accessed through free search or using quicklinks (see the user guidance for search help). We continuously search for and include new information into the database.
Details on KIT's current mHealth projects in the fields of diagnostics of tropical diseases and laboratory procurement are briefly described.
Introductions and links to further reading on currently about 100 mHealth projects in the different application areas are given by region, ranging from case studies to pilot projects to implemented programmes. A map allows quick access to project information in different geographic regions and countries.
In the 2nd Phase, we are setting up a collaborative ePlatform on mHealth to enhance the ability of all stakeholders to make informed and evidence-based decisions in expanding the use of mHealth.