mHealth and Cloud Computing

in Developing Countries

Eric Gibson Jr

Kenya Background

Population of more than 43 million peoplePopulation of more than 43 million people

Half of population living in povertyHalf of population living in poverty

As of 2011, their GDP was estimated at 33.6 As of 2011, their GDP was estimated at 33.6 billion. However, only 4.6 percent of their GDP billion. However, only 4.6 percent of their GDP was invested in its health care systemwas invested in its health care system

Preventable diseases remain a serious issuePreventable diseases remain a serious issue

South Africa Background

Poor distribution of resources between private Poor distribution of resources between private and public sector health workers, and within and public sector health workers, and within the public sectorthe public sector

High rate of HIV/AIDS contractionHigh rate of HIV/AIDS contraction

Life expectancy at birth is approximately 49 Life expectancy at birth is approximately 49 years.years.

What is mHealth?

mHealth is the combining of mobile mHealth is the combining of mobile technologies with existing health care systems technologies with existing health care systems to provide health care delivery to customers.to provide health care delivery to customers.

the delivery of health-related services and the delivery of health-related services and information via mobile technologies.information via mobile technologies.

Sub-Areas of mHealth

mHealth & Tele-healthmHealth & Tele-health

Tele-health is the delivery of health-related services and information via Tele-health is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologiestelecommunications technologies

mHealth & Wireless HealthmHealth & Wireless Health

  Wireless Health integrates wireless technology into traditional Wireless Health integrates wireless technology into traditional medicine, such as for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of illness.medicine, such as for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of illness.

mHealth & eHealthmHealth & eHealth

eHealth describes any healthcare practice supported by electronic eHealth describes any healthcare practice supported by electronic information processing and communication, so it has broader reach information processing and communication, so it has broader reach than than mHealthmHealth, which relates to practices using mobile technologies., which relates to practices using mobile technologies.

Mobile Health or Modern Health?

Mobile Health includes the followingMobile Health includes the following

Voice & SMSVoice & SMS

SmartphonesSmartphones

Laptop computersLaptop computers

MP3 PlayersMP3 Players

Patient monitoring devicesPatient monitoring devices

Mobile Health or Modern Health? (Cont.)

Modern Health includes the followingModern Health includes the following

Digital & electronic mobile healthDigital & electronic mobile health

Telehealth and telemedicineTelehealth and telemedicine

Electronic sensors & cloud-based monitoring Electronic sensors & cloud-based monitoring servicesservices

Wireless connectionsWireless connections

Electronic medical & personal health recordsElectronic medical & personal health records

Mobile Phone Penetration at a Glance

Source: ITU World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database

Why mHealth?

Concerns with the various constraints felt by Concerns with the various constraints felt by healthcare systems in developing countrieshealthcare systems in developing countries

Rapid rise of mobile phone penetration to Rapid rise of mobile phone penetration to large segments of the healthcare workforce large segments of the healthcare workforce and population as a whole in developing and population as a whole in developing countries.countries.

mHealth Implementation Challenges

Lack of physician/provider supportLack of physician/provider support

Lack of existing technologyLack of existing technology

Concerns about regulation of applicationsConcerns about regulation of applications

Absence of legal guidelines on privacy and Absence of legal guidelines on privacy and confidentiality  confidentiality  

mHealth Technology Platform for

Patient Engagement Applications

(video)

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVUYeMT4LG8

The End