Recently, Wireless Reach sponsored a conference in Cape Town, South Africa that aimed to revolutionize the health care industry by addressing critical barriers and helping to create best practices for the emerging mobile health ecosystem. As an attendee at the event, I was able to observe the influence of mobility on health care worldwide.
Throughout the GSMA Mobile Health Summit, we had the opportunity to showcase our Wireless Reach projects in South Africa , Kenya, and Egypt — all examples of how Qualcomm wireless technology can improve the delivery of health services in resource poor areas. As part of the diverse group of 500 executives from government, non-profit organizations, medical device manufacturers, operators and technologists, we discussed the state of the mobile health (mHealth) ecosystem and the relevance of 3G for developing markets.
Dr. Sarah Chuchu, Deputy Chief Pharmacist of Kenya Ministry of Medical Services, spoke on a panel entitled, “Examining User Confidence” about our Wireless Reach project in Kenya, which uses web-based software to automate the supply chain and reporting processes for antiretroviral medicines.
In addition, Mr. Behane Gebru, Director of Programs, Academy for Educational Development, spoke on a panel during the mHealth Education portion of the event about how our Wireless Reach project in South Africa uses a mobile health information system to educate and assist nurses as they provide care to patients. Both sessions were well attended and, by many accounts, participants showed great interest in our work.
Examining the health care industry as a whole, Clint McClellan, senior director of Business Development for Qualcomm, spoke of the potential for mobile health technology to shift the emphasis in the health care system from a “sick care system” to a “health maintenance system.”
As of now, health care is centered on the treatment of illness. By providing consumers with new tools and making remote monitoring available to everyone, even those in rural areas, it is possible to reduce medical costs, improve early diagnosis, as well as focus on preventative care. mHealth allows patients to take an active role in their health while living their day-to-day lives — outside of a medical facility.
You can read more about his session and other highlights of the event here .
Lastly, I want to thank Elizabeth Migwalla, Senior Director of Government Affairs Qualcomm Africa, for sharing Qualcomm’s vision for the future of health care with all conference attendees during a plenary luncheon.
