In Tanzania, poor logistics and infrastructure have contributed to health deficiencies and spread of disease. With the introduction of new, low-cost mhealth technologies, great strides have been made towards diagnosing patients and providing proactive care. The digital era is not discriminative to the western culture; in fact, mobile phones are pervasive in developing countries as well. Due to the rapid increase in such innovation dissemination, Tanzanian people, assisting organizations, and medical workers are making use of mhealth technologies. In this blog, I will discuss the development of mobile phone applications and their uses in Tanzania, as well as weigh the costs and benefits of such technologies.
Until rather recently, mobile phone applications were geared towards consumer education –providing access to information on health topics and prevention methods. Innovations then permeated the field of dermatology, the study of skin disorders. Now, mobile applications are attending to a greater need –assisting in diagnosis for patients with chronic conditions.
Various religious and health organizations have combined efforts to introduce telemedicine, “a distant diagnosis platform in which health workers use cell phone technology to carry out distance diagnosis through a Web-based program,” to the Tanzanian heath care system and infrastructure (iPhone and other Smartphone Apps, 2011).
How do these applications work? It is quite simple. Clinical workers use mobile phones to take pictures and record information of patients. Information, especially those on complex cases, can be showed to specialists via the iPath (a secure datatbase) telemedicine platform; these specialists can make recommendations and provide advice based on information received.
Kizito Mrema, the project’s resource person, states, “The goal is to have an online consultation network operating between 43 health facilities in the country, where about one hundred consultations are taking place weekly of which 20% are second opinion” (Cell Phones Saving Lives in Tanzania, 2011). Currently, doctors and consultants involved in this network are required to attend several training programs that cover the use of iPath and mobile applications.
Dr. Mauri Niemi, a medical doctor in Tanzania, reports great success stating that he consults specialists every time he comes across complex issues, and the advice he receives has been extremely helpful. Niemi travels to remote places in Tanzania to assist the rural population—those who cannot get to medical centers. With the mobile applications and telemedicine platform, he “sends x-rays, photos of skin conditions and tissue samples and patient information to specialist doctors for consultation online” (Cell Phones Saving Lives in Tanzania, 2011). The telemedicine platform can be accessed by any internet browser or cell phone with GPRS connection. In one case, Dr. Niemi met with a toddler who suffered from a swollen ear that worsened by the use of antibiotics. Niemi used his cell phone to take a picture of the child’s infected ear and upload relevant information to the telemedicine platform. An ear specialist in Dar es Salaam suggested an operation, which was later carried out in a neighboring region; the operation was successful and the child survived.
In a presentation, Dr. Niemi identified the benefits of mhealth technologies. First, the system is usable on slow networks, in remote locations. Second, small dispensaries and hospitals can communicate. Third, patient information is sent on a secure website. Fourth, automatic notifications between parties involved are time effective. Fifth, time and money are saved when more people are treated in close hospitals.
Deusdedit Mjungu, a clinical analyst, says there will be a new generation of doctors who will change the old practices if they are encouraged. He claims the main hurdle is integrating the telemedicine system so that is pervasive among health organizations and workers, as well as the establishment of a streamlined billing system (Cell Phones Saving Lives in Tanzania, 2011).
I firmly believe the initial costs of integrating the telemedicine system will be worth the amount of lives saved. Even with the incremental adoption of these technologies, Tanzanians have benefited. Although these systems may not be the best for the Western culture, Tanzania and other developing countries need as much care as possible. If there are methods to provide rural populations with poor health conditions better health care through distance diagnosis, then it should be a goal greatly pursued. There are not enough doctors available or willing to travel across remote regions of developing nations; but there are doctors willing to consult and advise through online platforms. I believe this resource will generate positive results and is necessary in assisting the fight against world poverty and poor health.
References:
iPhone and other Smartphone Apps (mHealth or mobile health): TeleMental Health News (TMHI News). 2011. http://archive.aweber.com/tmhinews/JgFTk/t/iPhone_and_other_Smartphone_Apps.htm
Cell Phones Changing Lives in Tanzania. 2011. http://www.nl-aid.org/continent/sub-saharan-africa/cell-phones-saving-lives-in-tanzania/
This is a really interesting case study of how mhealth technologies are utilized in Tanzania. Not only does mhealth seem like an effective solution to providing medical care to those who can't afford it, but it also cut costs in the long term. Mhealth definitely seems like a great investment that will help build the healthcare infrastructures in Tanzania and other developing countries. I’m definitely interested in learning more about how the telemedicine system will help establish “a streamlined billing system” and its long term effects. I just question how effective a picture can be in diagnosing a patient’s condition. In the end, I feel that mhealth technology is a great supplement to improving healthcare in developing countries. Great post Kristen! ☺
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