Evaluating the sustainability of mHealth systems in developing countries: the knowledge gap

Abstract

The use of mobile technology in healthcare, known as mHealth is being explored across the developing countries as part of the effort to tackle growing disease burden through, prevention and appropriate and prompt intervention strategies. Although the outcomes of some of the implemented mHealth projects have been successful with very promising results, a significant number of the projects have failed after a short period of use. Studies carried out on the failed projects pointed to lack of sustainability. Review of existing technology evaluation model against the cited challenges reveals significant deficiencies in the models and thus not suitable to evaluate sustainability of mHealth system in developing countries. It is clear that there exist a knowledge gap and hence the need to develop and validate a suitable mHealth system sustainability evaluation model.