Beyond Borders: What America Can Learn about mHealth from Developing Countries

Patricia Mechael, PhD MHS

mHealth and Telemedicine Advisor Millennium Villages Project

Earth Institute at Columbia University

mHealth Initiative Seminar Washington, DC June 4, 2009

Mobile Technologies for Health (1997-2007)

•  Informal applications of mobile phones to access and coordinate health services

•  Use of PDAs for data collection and access to health information

•  Use of text messaging for appointment reminders & treatment compliance

•  Use of mobile devices for remote patient monitoring

•  Unanticipated uptake of mobile phones in low and middle income countries

The Alignment (2007-present) •  Recognition within the global

community of the potential of mobile phones for health

•  Growing body of evidence

•  Extension of computer-based systems and migration to mobile platforms

•  Decentralized health worker force (CHWs)

•  Enabling environment- handset makers, infrastructure vendors, operators

•  Collaborative development and implementation communities

TechnologiesandHealth‐RelatedSta3s3csforDevelopingCountries(Millions)

Sources:VitalWaveConsul3ng,BusinessMonitorInterna3onal,Interna3onalTelecommunica3onsUnionandtheWorldBank’sWorldDevelopmentIndicators

mHealth Case Studies (UNF/VGF Landscape)

• Remote Data Collection (14)

• Remote Monitoring (10)

• Diagnostic & Treatment Support (9)

• Disease & Epidemic Outbreak Tracking (7)

• Education & Awareness (6)

• Communication & Training For Health Care Workers (5)

mHealth within mServices •  Mobile phone uses within the general

public- improving access to services, transportation, and information

•  Awareness raising through mass social text campaigns

•  Support groups and social networking

•  Public service announcements

•  Early warning systems

•  Citizen media

•  Call centers and hotlines

•  Exploration of mobile industry – new business models in emerging markets

Photo:TexttoChange

mHealth-related MDGs

Monitoring and Evaluation

mHealth Scale & Sustainability •  Strategic planning- Engage broad range of stakeholders from within

Ministries of Information and Communication Technology, Ministries of Health, Mobile Industry Partners, NGOs, and Academic Institutions

•  Policy-making- Identify gaps in public policy and develop guidelines and policies

•  Enabling environment- Review of regulations, licensing, and pricing •  Support for large-scale implementation- Encourage collaborative

implementation

•  Capacity strengthening- Build local capacity in strategic ICT integration, software design and development, use of ICT by health professionals, and evaluating impact

•  Evaluation- Build the evidence base for better informed decision-making and business case for financial investment

For more information about mHealth and the work of Millennium Villages Project & Earth Institute:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MHealth http://mobileactive.org/

http://www.unfoundation.org/global-issues/technology/mhealth-alliance.html

http://ehealth-connection.org/ http://cghed.ei.columbia.edu/?id=projects_dh

http://www.ericsson.com/ericsson/corporate_responsibility/doc/cr08/mHealth_13.pdf

Thank You!

Contact

Patricia Mechael

Earth Institute at Columbia University Millennium Villages Project

pmechael@gmail.com