Among the lucrative yet unexploited sectors is e-health. E-health refers to health services and information delivered or enhanced through the Internet and related technologies.
The use of electronic tools in delivering health care is rapidly emerging as an international priority in nations at all levels of development.
However, while electronic records may be out of reach for developing nations, use of electronic tools can result in large health improvements, even in resource-poor environments.
The Chief Executive Officer, Changamka Microhealth Limited Sam Agutu affirms that the Kenyan market is ready for the e-health services.
He says that unlike the current situation where one has to go through long procedures before receiving medical services, use of electronic services can be very convenient.
Electronic services may also be cheaper hence increasing accessibility of healthcare.
“Due to the exorbitant fees charged for services such as doctor’s consultation, laboratory tests and high cost of medication, most of the ordinary Kenyans have not been able to access quality professional treatment,” he says.
According to the Kenya Advertising Research Foundation (KARF) and the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI), over 80 per cent of Kenyans are excluded from formal medical arrangements. Majority of these 80 per cent are not consumers of formal financial services and are mostly casual employees and farm workers.
Agutu says it’s after this realization that Changamka Microcredit Limited decided to innovatively use technology to enable Kenyans with low income to access quality and affordable healthcare. This led to launch of Changamka e-card September last year.
The initial cost of the card is Ksh 50. It’s loaded with Ksh 450 to cover a single hospital visit. The Ksh 450 covers costs of the doctor’s consultation; laboratory tests and pay for medication prescribed.
Agutu says for the few months that the card has been in operation, they have been able to sell up to 4000 cards and are anticipating selling about 500,000 Changamka e-cards within the next 12 to 18 months.
“The response of the Changamka e-card has been very positive. Many people currently prefer the card because it empowers individuals to plan for medical emergencies as he can load the card and keep it until it is needed for treatment by him/ his immediate or extended family as it is a bearer card,” he says.
Use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for health is one of the most rapidly growing areas in health today.
Analysis from Frost & Sullivan for instance indicates that growth of the x-ray market will be driven mainly by the installation of digital systems as well as the introduction of picture archiving communication systems (PACS) to the Kenyan market.
“Doctors and patients in Kenya are becoming more aware of the benefits of digital x-ray systems, hence placing a greater demand on authorities to upgrade hospitals’ existing systems,” notes Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Jolize Gerber.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), in order to be effective, e-health requires appropriate regulatory, legal and policy frameworks in both the telecommunications and the health sectors.
Some of the critical factors for success are proper project management and a coordinated approach following a clear vision, the building up and maintenance of adequate technological infrastructure, the commitment of trained end-users and ICT literate citizens, and the political desire to achieve challenging but realistic e-health goals.
The health body cites data security and privacy as some of the key issues in e-health. Henceforth, wherever possible, e-health networks and applications should share expensive communication infrastructures with other ICT applications requiring secure and interoperable systems, such as e-government and e-commerce.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Edith Musyoki
Quelle/Source: Vllvoices, 24.03.2010
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