Mobile health technologies: Hype or hope for developing countries?
06-Sep-15, SciDev Net
Mobile and wireless technologies, also known as mHealth, are aiding health objectives in developing countries where traditional healthcare may prevent patients from receiving optimal care.
%20Samuel%20Aranda_Panos.jpg "Mobile health technologies Hype or hope for developing countries (c) Samuel Aranda Panos")
Image: Samuel Aranda / Panos
In its presentation during the Global Forum on Research and Innovation for Health 2015 held in Manila last August, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) said with about 6.3 billion mobile subscribers worldwide, about 80 per cent from developing countries, health services offered through mobile phones can reach even those without sufficient access to traditional healthcare.
With the use of mHealth, access to healthcare facilities, waiting times, health service delivery system quality and lack of well-trained healthcare personnel have become less of an issue, says Hoon Sang Lee, a medical doctor and health advisor for KOICA.