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Potential
 Given the huge unsatisfied demand for healthcare professionals and the
overwhelming need for the provision of healthcare services in developing
countries, e-Health/telemedicine services could be an efficient and effective
mean to achieve national health policy objectives and to improve and extend
healthcare services especially to non urban and remote areas.
With the introduction of mobile
communication, the telecommunication industry has been reshaped. This has
resulted in many new opportunities for e-Health. Mobile e-Health (m-Health)
is a new and evolving area of e-Health. With large scale mobile networks and
the continuing developments in multimedia tools and video image quality,
there is a real opportunity to significantly increase access of rural
populations to quality healthcare services where many of them are now
excluded from the medical benefits enjoyed by their urban counterparts.
With mobile communication, populations can be treated in their homes and
communities with access to expert care. Any healthcare personnel can get
access to vital information anywhere and at any time. Wireless technologies
increase real time access to accurate patient data, including clinical
histories, treatment, medication, tests, laboratory results, etc. and result
in overall improvement of patient care and the provision of personalized
health services. Mobile technologies can also improve data accuracy and
significantly reduce errors during data collection and disease surveillance.
Mobile clinics and mobile portable e-Health terminals can take healthcare to
distant locations to support prompt medical assistance at remote sites or
during emergency responses.
Mobile Solutions for Health:
Better Access to Healthcare for all
 ITU
has long standing experience in the area of e-Health and has implemented
telemedicine projects in developing countries and organized seminars and
workshops on telemedicine in different parts of the world since 1994.
Furthermore, the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau (ITU-D), through its
Study Groups, is facilitating the establishment of collaboration platforms that
bring together e-Health experts from the industry, academic institutions and
NGOs to stimulate cooperation and knowledge sharing.
The
ITU-D Study Group 2, Question 14-3/2 on Telecommunications for e-Health,
in particular, is taking further steps to assist in raising the awareness of
decision makers, regulators, telecommunication operators, donors and customers
and disseminate experiences and best practices about the role of information and
telecommunications technologies in improving healthcare delivery in developing
countries and is promoting development of technical standards for e-Health
application in conjunction with ITU Standardization sector (ITU-T).
Download the Question
14 report on "Mobile e-Health Solutions for Developing Countries"
The report highlights the role of mobile
telecommunication technology in health care by offering at a distance the
medical consultation and administration of patient treatment. The goal of the
report is to offer some practical information on some of the ongoing Mobile
Health solutions. The report provides some background information related to:
what is Mobile Health, how to use Clinical Decision Support Software and Traffic
Control System for Medical Information Network, Models of Wireless Access and
Connectivity, etc.; and presents some practical examples from different
countries.
A growing number of countries are using mobile
technologies to enable direct communication and information transfer between
patients and healthcare providers. The m-Health field is wide and remarkably
dynamic. The range of applications is constantly expanding. Two key application
areas for m-Health are considered:
 1.
Mobile e-Health/Telemedicine clinics and Mobile Portable e-Health Terminals
This includes the deployment of telemedicine equipment and e-Health
terminals to distant locations to support medical assistance at remote sites or
during emergency responses.
2. Mobile Health
Information Services
This includes the provision of the following Health Services using Mobile
equipment and communication:
• Remote Patient Management & Monitoring Services
(helpline, alerts, reminders, access to patient record, history, medication
plan, tracking, remote sensors, etc.)
• Diagnostics and Treatment Decision Support
Systems (2 ways SMS, Decision Support Systems software, etc.)
• Health and Awareness (Health awareness SMS
campaigns, tips, quizzes, games, etc.)
• Remote Data gathering (surveys, disease
surveillance, research trials, etc.)
• Training for Health Workers
For more
information, please contact:
ICT Applications and Cybersecurity Division
Policies and Strategies Department
ITU Telecommunication Development Sector
Email: cybmail@itu.int
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