Meeting the information and communication needs of health managers and health workers in developing countries: What roles can mobile/wireless technologies play?

The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of mobile/wireless ICTs in health (mHealth) in meeting the information and communication needs of frontline health workers in developing countries.

This objective will be achieved by analyzing cases of mHealth programmes from some developing countries such as Uganda and Peru. In analyzing these case studies, the process and outcome impacts of mHealth on health workers and health systems capacity building will presented as results. Lessons from these cases will help inform global, national and local policy on strengthening health systems in developing countries.  Providing required access to health information and for effective communication is a role that mobile/wireless ICTs can play especially in developing countries’ context.  Mobile/wireless ICTs are becoming the standard means of communication and increasingly access to information in numerous developing countries. 

Frontline health workers require health information for effective management of diseases and for professional development. Presently, these information needs are not being met adequately. A major reason for this deficiency is the lack of access to the required information especially to rural health workers at the frontline.   This group of health workers is usually isolated and do not have the required access to up-to date information. Also, as information are becoming more digitalized and made available through the internet, information access to urban health workers and health managers is also important.  
 Professional isolation of rural and urban based health workers is the resultant outcome of this lack of access to health information.  Also, health workers and managers also require access to appropriate communication tools. Communication is usually required by health workers for making drug orders, communicating with each others, in emergency situations and for making referrals. Health managers also require access to information and communication tools for effective health system management and administration.