Mobile applications for the health sector

TLDR

Mobile health (mHealth) is a rapidly evolving field that leverages mobile technology to improve global health outcomes by reducing costs, enhancing quality, and creating billions of interactions among patients, providers, and health systems, though its complex intersection of health, technology, and finance makes sustainable business models challenging. This report evaluates the current state of mHealth in the developing world through case studies of Haiti, India, and Kenya, identifies emerging trends, risks, and opportunities, and serves as a tool for donors and governments to anticipate policy issues affecting the industry. It examines interventions that introduce entirely new functions, provide cost‑effective substitutes for existing services, and offer interactive features that amplify the impact of existing health interventions.

Abstract

Mobile health (mHealth) the use of mobile technology applications for healthcare is a young and dynamic field that could improve the well-being of people around the world. Mobile applications can lower costs and improve the quality of healthcare as well as shift behavior to strengthen prevention, all of which can improve health outcomes over the long term. As an intersection of health, technology, and finance, mHealth is also a complex industry where it can be difficult to develop sustainable business models. This report assesses the current state of mHealth in the developing world, including extensive case studies of three countries Haiti, India, and Kenya with very different health sectors, financing options, and technological bases. It examines interventions serving entirely new functions in the health system, less costly substitutes for existing interventions, and interactive functions that multiply the power of existing interventions. In addition, the report identifies emerging trends, risks, and opportunities in the industry's immediate future. This report is intended to be a tool for donors and governments to understand the growing mHealth industry and anticipate the policy issues that will affect its development. The use of mobile technology creates more than 5 billion points of contact between consumers, healthcare workers, health system administrators, and firms in supply chains for health commodities. Finally, access to care can benefit from health financing applications based on mobile devices, which can reduce the overall cost of care, including health system costs associated with treating and managing chronic conditions such as HIV/AIDS, often in conjunction with other mobile applications.