Challenges to Scaling up Mhealth in Ghana. A Framework for Assessing the Health System

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.