Patient Monitoring & Support

The programme running from 2011-2013 utilizes mobile phone and database technologies to improve registration and monitoring of pregnancies as well as neonatal and post-partum care. The pilot is taking place in rural Bangladesh, where the burden of maternal and neonatal mortality is highest. Mobile phones play an improtant role in contacting a health services or an ambulance. However, while access to mobile phones has significantly increased in recent years, there is still a gap among families in lower-income settings. The aim of the project is to link community health workers to their clients in order to improve health surveillance, facilitate referrals and improve overall care.  The pilot includes an evaluation component that will be used to measure functionality and usability before considering scaling-up.

Colecta-PALM is a web-based application delivered on PDAs that provides behavioral messaging to HIV/AIDS patients in order to advance adherence to antiretroviral treatment and reduce transmission. A pilot study was undertaken in 2007 with people living with HIV/AIDS in two clinics in Lima.

In order to reduce treatment non-compliance, a pilot project combined adherence monitoring with an incentive structure. TB patients were given encrypted paper-microfluidics test strips. When the medicine has been taken, a urin test reveals a code which the patient sends via SMS to a database. Compliance is rewarded with free mobile minutes.

VidaNET is a free mHealth adherence system for people living with HIV/AIDS. It was launched in Mexico in 2008, providing users with SMS-tips on living with HIV/AIDS, information on medications, and support to stay adherent to taking medications and keeping appointments.

MedicallHome is an independent, subscription health-hotline operating in Mexico since 1998. It offers phone consults, drug information and discounts in certain medical facilities.

In order to reduce treatment non-compliance, a pilot project combined adherence monitoring with an incentive structure. TB patients were given encrypted paper-microfluidics test strips. When the medicine has been taken, a urin test reveales a code which the patient sent via SMS to a database. Compliance is rewarded with free mobile minutes.

HMRI started a pilot project of Telemedicine in Andrha Pradesh in 2008 with initially seven telemedicine consulting centers in district hospitals, primary health centres and old age homes, providing general physician and cardiology consultation.

The 24-hour medical call center was launched in 2006, a paid service accessible to GrameenPhone subscribers. Services include information on medical facilities and pharmacies, interpretation of test results, as well as medical advice from a doctor. With only one doctor per 4,000 people, the service is set up as an extension of primary health care services.

The pilot project aimed to examine the beneficial impact of use of mobile phones for health care on maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, and to seek innovative ways to ensure access to skilled attendance at delivery. 'Wired mothers' being pregnant women linked to a primary health care unit through use of mobile phones receiving standard SMS reminders for care appointments and who can call the primary provider in case of acute or non acute problems. It was also the aim to study the health system's response in relation to obstetric emergencies when using mobile phones to strengthen communication between different levels. Data was being analyzed at the end of 2010.

In order to improve compliance in TB and HIV/AIDS treatment, a pill bottle was developed that automatically delivers a message to a central server when opened. Should no message be received the server automatically sends a reminder by SMS, first to the patient and thereafter to different levels of care givers. The project was piloted in 2006/07 in South Africa.