Medical mobile technologies – what is needed for a sustainable and scalable implementation on a global scale?

ABSTRACT

Current advances within medical technology show great potential from a global health perspective. Inexpensive, effective solutions to common problems within diagnostics, medical procedures and access to medical information are emerging within almost all fields of medicine. The innovations can benefit health care both in resource-limited and in resource-rich settings. However, there is a big gap between the proof-of-concept stage and implementation. This article will give examples of promising solutions, with special focus on mobile image- and sensor-based diagnostics. We also discuss how technology and frugal innovations could be made sustainable and widely available. Finally, a list of critical factors for success is presented, based on both our own experiences and the literature.

SPECIAL ISSUE:

• mHealth for Improved Access and Equity in Health Care

KEYWORDS:

• Mobile health
• global health
• technological innovations
• diagnostic imaging
• health resources

Responsible Editor Nawi Ng, Umeå University, Sweden

Responsible Editor Nawi Ng, Umeå University, Sweden

Acknowledgments

The article was published thanks to financial support from the Wallenberg Foundation and Umeå University.

Disclosure statement

Johan Lundin is the founder and co-owner of Fimmic Oy, Helsinki, Finland. Guy Dumont is co-founder of LionsGate Technologies, Vancouver, Canada.

Ethics and consent

None.

Paper context

The extensive spread of mobile phones and mobile wireless networks globally has led to a series of innovations within health care that take advantage of the novel technologies and the connectivity. These innovations often enable low-cost solutions to medical diagnostics and improved access to information and decision-support at the point-of-care. The article gives a brief overview of recent mobile diagnostic technologies, summarizes challenges and lists a series of critical factors for a successful implementation and scale-up.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Finska Läkaresällskapet r.f. and Medicinska Understödsföreningen Liv och Hälsa rf; Sigrid Juselius Stiftelse; Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS); Vetenskapsrådet [2015-03287].

Notes on contributors

Johan Lundin

Both authors participated in the conception and design of the article, wrote the article, revised it and approved the final version to be published.