Vodafoneand the UN have joined the
Rockerfeller Foundation to co-ordinate worldwide efforts to
usemobile technologyto improve
healthcare.
The alliance of the three organisations made the announcement at
the GSM Association
(GSMA) Mobile World Congress.
The alliance has identified 50 projects around the world that
show the benefits of mobile technology in healthcare, but lack
co-ordination. The alliance will also promote the business case to
encourageinvolvement fromnetwork operators,
according
to the BBC.
These initiatives include remote diagnoses, medication
monitoring and reminder services and HIV education using text
messages.
Through the newly-announced
mHealth
for Development programme, the alliance will get big corporates
involved by drawing up the business cases and models that could be
used to support healthcare using mobile technology.
UN/Vodafone Foundation Partnership head
Claire Thwaites said at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona
that there is a real need to bring governments together with NGOs
and corporations.
The alliance will commission research on what the market
opportunity is for health care supported by mobile technology to
give business reason to get involved, she said.
Read more about:
Mobile World Congress.