The promise for improving healthcare services has been confirmed by mobile device technology, but the decision-making process to acquire and use mHealth technologies on a scale is not directed. We apply a methodology to assess the potential and difficulties of efficient deployment of the mHealth at a scale in healthcare systems using the instance of Community Base Health Services (CBS) in Ghana. The advantage and difficulties of mHealth in community-based services in Ghana were examined in comprehensive research via a blend of key informant interviews, document reviews, and local project visits. The lessons gained from Ghana's local experience and elsewhere were based on a framework adjusted from 3 approaches to sustainable information and Communication Technology (ICT) evaluation. Four major characteristics of the system have been identified and evaluated: government stewardship and organizational, technical, and financial system. The prospects for successfully implementing mHealth in Ghana include the high penetration of mobile devices and a favorable e-health policy framework. Again, given a health system with a weal ICT setting and limited implementing ability, it is doubtful if the potential benefits of mHealth would benefit CBS through direct broad-scale adoption. The application of a healthcare system framework facilitates a systematic assessment of possible barriers to CBS growth in Ghana and is helpful for decision-making policy and practice for other small and medium enterprises.
BT - Webology DO - 10.14704/web/v19i1/web19033 IS - 1 LA - eng N2 -The promise for improving healthcare services has been confirmed by mobile device technology, but the decision-making process to acquire and use mHealth technologies on a scale is not directed. We apply a methodology to assess the potential and difficulties of efficient deployment of the mHealth at a scale in healthcare systems using the instance of Community Base Health Services (CBS) in Ghana. The advantage and difficulties of mHealth in community-based services in Ghana were examined in comprehensive research via a blend of key informant interviews, document reviews, and local project visits. The lessons gained from Ghana's local experience and elsewhere were based on a framework adjusted from 3 approaches to sustainable information and Communication Technology (ICT) evaluation. Four major characteristics of the system have been identified and evaluated: government stewardship and organizational, technical, and financial system. The prospects for successfully implementing mHealth in Ghana include the high penetration of mobile devices and a favorable e-health policy framework. Again, given a health system with a weal ICT setting and limited implementing ability, it is doubtful if the potential benefits of mHealth would benefit CBS through direct broad-scale adoption. The application of a healthcare system framework facilitates a systematic assessment of possible barriers to CBS growth in Ghana and is helpful for decision-making policy and practice for other small and medium enterprises.
PB - NeuroQuantology Journal PY - 2022 SP - 458 EP - 479 T2 - Webology TI - Challenges to Scaling up Mhealth in Ghana. A Framework for Assessing the Health System UR - https://www.webology.org/data-cms/articles/20220122011159pmWEB19033.pdf VL - 19 SN - 1735-188X, 1735-188X ER -