Information and communication technologies and health in low income countries: the potential and the constraints
01 Jan 2001-Bulletin of The World Health Organization (World Health Organization)-Vol. 79, Iss: 9, pp 850-855
TL;DR: The potential offered by technological progress in the information and communication technologies (ICTs) industries for the health sector in developing countries is outlined, some examples of positive experiences in India are presented, and the difficulties in achieving this potential are considered.
Abstract: This paper outlines the potential offered by technological progress in the information and communication technologies (ICTs) industries for the health sector in developing countries, presents some examples of positive experiences in India, and considers the difficulties in achieving this potential. The development of ICTs can bring about improvements in health in developing countries in at least three ways: as an instrument for continuing education they enable health workers to be informed of and trained in advances in knowledge; they can improve the delivery of health and disaster management services to poor and remote locations; and they can increase the transparency and efficiency of governance, which should, in turn, improve the availability and delivery of publicly provided health services. These potential benefits of ICTs do not necessarily require all the final beneficiaries to be reached directly, thus the cost of a given quantum of effect is reduced. Some current experiments in India, such as the use of Personal Digital Assistants by rural health workers in Rajasthan, the disaster management project in Maharashtra and the computerized village offices in Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry, suggest creative ways of using ICTs to improve the health conditions of local people. However, the basic difficulties encountered in using ICTs for such purposes are: an inadequate physical infrastructure; insufficient access by the majority of the population to the hardware; and a lack of the requisite skills for using them. We highlight the substantial cost involved in providing wider access, and the problem of resource allocation in poor countries where basic infrastructure for health and education is still lacking. Educating health professionals in the possible uses of ICTs, and providing them with access and "connectivity", would in turn spread the benefits to a much wider set of final beneficiaries and might help reduce the digital divide.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an analytical framework to consider the many complex issues involved in the construction and operation of an information society, and propose a positive agenda for the Latin American and Caribbean region's transition to an Information Society.
Abstract: New technological options that permit the use of digital systems to create and disseminate information around the world are paving the way for new means of organizing society and economic production and are gradually giving rise to a meta-paradigm that has come to be referred to as the Information Society. Viewed from the perspective of developing countries, the question of how to employ this emerging paradigm to achieve broader development goals and to integrate them more fully into the global Information Society is an issue of the utmost importance on the development agenda. In seeking to address this challenging issue, the present document asks three key questions: 1. What does the "Information Society" consist of? The first chapter of this study develops an analytical framework to consider the many complex issues involved in the construction and operation of an Information Society. 2. What are the basic characteristics and distinctive regional aspects of the transition to an Information Society? In order to understand what current and future paths Latin America and the Caribbean can choose to follow in making the transition to an Information Society, chapters two, three and four review some of the specifically regional features of the current process. 3. What policies can help to facilitate the transition towards an Information Society? The fifth and final chapter proposes a positive agenda for the Latin American and Caribbean region's transition to an Information Society. ResumenLas nuevas tecnologias que permiten crear y difundir informacion en todo el mundo mediante sistemas digitales estan conduciendo a nuevas formas de organizacion social y produccion, y dando origen gradualmente a un metaparadigma conocido como "sociedad de la informacion". Ante esta situacion, la busqueda de formas de aprovechar este paradigma emergente para lograr metas cada vez mas amplias e integrarse mas plenamente en la sociedad mundial de la informacion adquiere una importancia fundamental para los paises en desarrollo. En vista de este desafio, en el presente documento se plantean tres preguntas de primordial importancia: 1. ?En que consiste la sociedad de la informacion? En el capitulo I del estudio se ofrece un marco analitico para la consideracion de los numerosos y complejos problemas que suponen la construccion y el funcionamiento de la sociedad de la informacion. 2. ?Cuales son las caracteristicas basicas y las peculiaridades regionales del proceso de transicion a la sociedad de la informacion? Para facilitar la comprension de las diversas vias que pueden tomar America Latina y el Caribe en el proceso de transicion a la sociedad de la informacion, ahora y en el futuro, en los capitulos II, III y IV se examinan algunas de las caracteristicas de este proceso en la region. 3. ?Que politicas podrian facilitar la transicion a la sociedad de la informacion? En el capitulo V se presenta una agenda positiva para la transicion de America Latina y el Caribe a la sociedad de la informacion.""
44 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined one such project to find out the reasons behind its success, and concluded that stakeholders' participation is the driving factor for success, which acts as the critical factor for triumph in e-government.
Abstract: There are very few successful e-government projects in developing countries. Most e-government projects within developing countries employ high-technology intervention whereas citizens are not ready for this. There are successful projects which took a low end route. This paper examines one such project to find out the reasons behind its success. The research concludes that stakeholders' participation is the driving factor for success. The major issue is not IT, but an understanding between the citizen population and their complimentary governmental entity, which acts as the critical factor for triumph in e-government.
44 citations
TL;DR: The analysis showed that threats include the reluctance of populations to use telemedicine services, and a general absence of infrastructure and resources to sustain them, and opportunities centre around potential research, including cost-effectiveness analyses and quantitative assessments of existing telemedICine services.
Abstract: Telemedicine activities in underserved communities were reviewed as part of the Universitas 21 (U21) e-health project. A SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) was conducted on 12 articles identified in a literature review, supplemented by expertise from U21 members. The analysis showed that threats include the reluctance of populations to use telemedicine services, and a general absence of infrastructure and resources to sustain them. Opportunities centre around potential research, including cost-effectiveness analyses and quantitative assessments of existing telemedicine services. The great strength of telemedicine is that it can improve access to health services among those most in need. However, its greatest weakness is the lack of evidence supporting its clinical and cost advantages relative to traditional services. This represents an important opportunity for research on telemedicine initiatives among underserved populations.
44 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This report presents views of managers and health-care providers from various institutions in Pakistan about the usefulness of e-health readiness assessment tools and in-depth interviews conducted during a larger study are presented.
Abstract: e-Health readiness refers to the preparedness of health-care institutions to implement programmes that involve use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in provision and management of health services. Level of readiness depends on a number of factors that lead to success or failure of e-health programmes, and thus increase or decrease hope of achieving the desired results. This report presents results from in-depth interviews conducted during a larger study and presents views of managers and health-care providers from various institutions in Pakistan about the usefulness of e-health readiness assessment tools. Participants emphasized the need for implementing e-health programmes in the country, while appreciating the need for readiness assessment tools, and the way these tools could avoid failures related to implementation of e-health programmes. Participants also linked e-health readiness with the process of change management, essential for sustainable implementation of e-health programmes in the health-care institutions of developing countries.
44 citations
Cites methods from "Information and communication techn..."
...e-Health has been used to address the longstanding issues of lack of access to and quality of health care among different populations.(2) But the literature suggests that simply the introduction of e-health technology is not enough to ensure successful implementation....
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Journal Article•
TL;DR: Eleven themes affecting healthcare management in disasters were identified and effective factors on the success of healthcare in disaster are not limited to the scope of healthcare.
Abstract: Background: Health care management in disasters is one of the main parts of disaster management. Health in disasters is affected by performance of various sectors, and has an interactive impact on various aspects of disaster management. The aim of this study was to identify the most important themes affecting the healthcare management in disaster. Method: In this qualitative study with a content analysis approach, in-depth interviews in two steps with 30 disaster experts and managers were conducted to collect the data. Results: Eleven themes affecting healthcare management in disasters were identified. These themes were related to human resources management, resources management, victims' management transfer, environmental hygiene monitoring, nutrition management, mental health control, inter-agency coordination, training, technology management, information and communication management, and budget management. Conclusion: Providing effective health care service in disasters requires a comprehensive look at the various aspects of disaster management. Effective factors on the success of healthcare in disaster are not limited to the scope of healthcare. There should be a close relationship and interaction between different sectors of disaster management.
42 citations
Cites background from "Information and communication techn..."
...Technology will increase the efficiency of governments in improving public healthcare services (40)....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 1999
TL;DR: The Public Report of Basic Education in India presents a comprehensive evaluation of the educational system in India with an extensive survey of 200 villages in five states.
Abstract: The Public Report of Basic Education in India presents a comprehensive evaluation of the educational system in India. Based on an extensive survey of 200 villages in five states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan, the report gives a voice to thousands of parents, teachers, and children.
439 citations
TL;DR: This is a fascinating collection of essays exploring "why some people are healthy and others not," from a variety of disciplines and theoretical perspectives that challenges the widespread belief that health care is the most important determinant of health and argues for a more comprehensive and coherent understanding of the determinants of health.
Abstract: This is a fascinating collection of essays exploring \"why some people are healthy and others not,\" from a variety of disciplines and theoretical perspectives. It represents the efforts of a group of researchers from diverse backgrounds who have met intermittently over the last five years as part of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Their common focus was to understand the determinants of a population's health. The book's point of departure is that \"factors in the social environment, external to the health care system, exert a major and potentially modifiable influence on the health of populations through biological channels that are just now beginning to be understood.\" (p. 23) Via this observation, the volume challenges the widespread belief that health care is the most important determinant of health and argues for a more comprehensive and coherent understanding of the determinants of health. This thesis is lucidly presented in the introductory chapter. Evans brings together findings from a number of studies that provoke fundamental questions about our understanding of health.
359 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, composite solar cells of improved efficiency comprise two cells of different characteristics arranged in optical series but electrically insulated from each other, each cell is of larger crystal grain size than its substrate, which grain size is achieved by growing the cell semiconductor on a molten intermediate rheotaxy layer of a suitable semi-conductor which solidifies at a temperature below the melting temperature of the solar cell.
Abstract: Composite solar cells of improved efficiency comprise two cells of different characteristics arranged in optical series but electrically insulated from each other. Preferably, each cell is of larger crystal grain size than its substrate, which grain size is achieved by growing the cell semi-conductor on a molten intermediate rheotaxy layer of a suitable semi-conductor which solidifies at a temperature below the melting temperature of the solar cell semi-conductor. The substrate and the intermediate rheotaxy layer of the overlying cell are transparent to that fraction of sunlight which is utilized by the underlying cell. Various configurations of overlying and underlying cells are disclosed.
299 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: In this paper, the successful use of information and communication technology (ICT) in rural development is discussed, and sixteen case studies are presented, which spell out the various applications of ICT that have made a difference in the delivery of services or products in rural India.
Abstract: This book documents the successful use of information and communication technology (ICT) in rural development. The book begins with an introductory chapter that traces the history of ICT use in rural India, examines some of the problems that have afflicted the implementation of rural development programmes, at the same time showing how ICT applications could help overcome them, assesses the early efforts in ICT use, and proposes a scheme by which to classify ICT applications. Written by administrators who lead projects in their areas, sixteen case studies follow, which spell out the various applications of ICT that have made a difference in the delivery of services or products in rural India. Among the services covered are health care, milk distribution, disaster management, postal services, telephones, and services for the disabled. These applications of ICT cover the use of simple and inexpensive technologies at one end, and sophisticated satellite-based communication at the other. An important collection that delineates the main elements of a strategy that can be used by governmental agencies to derive maximum developmental impact from investments in ICT
85 citations