Abstract
ABSTRACTIn 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.
Highlights
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are undergoing an epidemiologic transition from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [1,2]
The recent penetration of mobile phone subscriptions has resulted in increased adoption of mHealth services for NCDs control and treatment in high-income countries
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) the field of mHealth is still in its infancy, it can emerge as a vital tool for averting risk factors associated with NCDs in the upcoming years [21]
Summary
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are undergoing an epidemiologic transition from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [1,2]. NCDs cause an estimated 36 million deaths each year, including 9 million people dying before the age of 60 years. The estimated cumulative lost economic output associated with NCDs is around US$7 trillion over the period 2011–2025 through health-care costs and productivity losses [5]. Four types of NCDs including cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancers make the major contribution to overall morbidity and mortality in LMICs [5]. Especially those in LMICs, will undergo a devastating human and economic toll as a result of increasing treatment costs and losses to productivity from NCDs [8,9]. If action is not taken to prevent and control NCDs, the burden and corresponding costs will grow substantially, which will place great stress on health systems. The impending global threat of NCDs, combined with weak health systems, calls for urgent solutions that have wide reach, strong potential for scale-up and have the ability to strengthen existing health systems [8]
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