Health systems readiness for adopting mhealth interventions for addressing non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: a current debate

Abstract

In low-and-middle-income countries, epidemiologic transition is taking place very rapidly from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases. NCDs mortality rates are increasing faster and nearly 80% of NCDs deaths occur in LMICs. Existing weak health systems of LMICs are undergoing a devastating human and economic toll as a result of increasing treatment costs and losses to productivity from NCDs. At the same time, the increasing penetration of mobile phone technology and the spread of cellular network and infrastructure have led to the introduction of the mHealth field. While mHealth field offers a great promise to prevent and control non-communicable diseases in low-and-middle-income countries: there is a great debate going on to explore health systems readiness for adopting mHealth technology to address NCDs in LMICs. There are a number of factors which determine health systems readiness and response for adoption of mHealth technology including preparedness of healthcare institutions, availability of the resources, willingness of healthcare providers and communities. We have discussed these factors to understand health systems preparedness to adopt mHealth field for prevention and control of NCDs. To adequately integrate mobile-phone-based health interventions into existing health systems, these factors should be dealt up-front through constant effort to improve health systems response for NCDs. Currently, there is insufficient empirical and policy evidence on this research area and therefore future research and policy dialogue should be directed to assess the health systems willingness for mHealth adoption principally to address NCDs in the context of LMICs.

Sustainable support solutions for community-based rehabilitation workers in refugee camps: piloting telehealth acceptability and implementation

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Digital interventions for people living with non-communicable diseases in India: A systematic review of intervention studies and recommendations for future research and development

“…Like many other low- and middle-income countries, digital health interventions for NCDs have not reached their fullest potential in India, as seen in many developed nations. 51 However, investing in digital health can reduce the cost of direct care, enhance access to health services, and improve health outcomes for resource-constrained countries. 52 Future policymaking, research, and implementation should seek opportunities to adopt more evidence-based digital approaches to improve NCD care in the context of India.…”

Using mobile phones to improve community health workers performance in low-and-middle-income countries

“…Unfortunately, many mHealth initiatives are often unsustainable pilot projects that not only fail to 'scale up' meaningfully, but also are concluded once initial funding is exhausted. High investment, operational and maintenance costs associated with setting up mHealth services in community setting, also pose a major challenge for health systems of LMICs [30]. While integrating mobile health solutions in CHWs workflow, another significant challenge faced by CHWs are management related challenges.…”