Technology and innovation – the pulse of Africa’s healthcare transformation

Africa is not lagging behind in the global technological revolution. The healthcare industry in Africa has seen the advancement of gadgets, software, and data – interconnecting patients and healthcare providers safely and seamlessly. In the health system, this technology shift is enhancing efficiency and improving results. It makes it possible to collect and integrate health information in the most useful way possible. This extends beyond doctors’ episodic notes written during hospital visits.

Technology improves efficiency by increasing access to healthcare and empowering the general public. But many people die from curable and preventable health issues in Africa’s rural and semi-urban regions, posing a healthcare challenge. Women in remote areas, for instance, often die as a result of difficulties during childbirth. Most of these issues can be resolved with the use of basic imaging technology; however, such technology is not always available. This involves the utilization of ultrasound technologies, which are crucial in regular diagnosing and pregnancy monitoring. However, in several public primary healthcare institutions, these treatments are not provided during birth or are not constantly available.

There have been initiatives like Imaging the World which has resulted in innovative health care services dependent on technological connectivity. Nurses and midwives can gather information from physical examinations and conduct testing at nursing facilities or the homes of mothers using mobile phone applications. The information is subsequently provided to gynecologists or obstetricians who are located far away. In the case of a high-risk pregnancy, an expectant mother can be directed to a medical provider that can provide adequate and timely care.

In response to Africa’s severe need for better healthcare, a variety of public-private partnerships are now leveraging resources innovatively. One such method is the establishment of a Community Life Centre in Kenya in the last few years, which uses purified water driven by solar energy. Longer opening hours are possible thanks to LED illumination. These facilities have diagnostic, monitoring, and triage equipment. Antenatal testing is available to expectant moms. Vaccines can also be kept for longer thanks to the provision of refrigeration facilities.

Leaping ahead with technology

Experts predict that by 2030, world demand for health care workers would exceed 80 million, more than doubling the current level, whereas supply will likely remain at 65 million. This harms low-income countries that are trying to increase both demands as well as the supply of expertise to provide fundamental health services.

Public expectations are rapidly increasing in nations like Kenya and Rwanda, which are already experimenting with innovative access models. Africa’s health services are in a key position to advance technologically.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Telemedicine are shortening the time it takes to produce results, achieving the same or even better results at the same price or lower prices than traditional approaches, and allowing for efficient expansion. Drones and other forms of automated delivery.

Leveraging technology

New technology could help caregivers enhance performance and reduce variability in both hospitals and across care settings. Three factors could be used in post-acute care to improve outcomes.

Analytics and data: These include details regarding every patient’s health condition and unique requirements. “Big data” has the potential to play a significant role in healthcare, especially if it is scaled down to the level of individual patients and populated with high-quality data. Health risk evaluations, insurance company records, and even data from fitness trackers or smartphones can all be used.

Clinical Protocols: These guidelines and protocols are based on best practices to establish a treatment plan and reduce variability. The goal is to provide practitioners with timely, relevant, and tailored assistance while avoiding alert fatigue, that encourages doctors and nurses to ignore support resources. This entails learning about doctor workflows, interests, and incentives.

Connected healthcare: In Africa, connected healthcare technologies based on the Internet of Things are enhancing the life quality, and it is gradually expanding into rural areas. Connected medical systems let healthcare providers collaborate more effectively and efficiently. All systems are progressively sharing data in a seamless manner, allowing doctors to coordinate and provide the patient with the appropriate information and treatment options.

Benefits of leveraging technology in Africa’s healthcare

Here are five major advantages of using technology in healthcare:

• Ease of access to patient health records
• Decrease in medical errors
• Improved patient care
• Cost reduction
• Improved patient education.

Easy accessibility to patient health records

Health information is necessary for doctors to examine a patient’s state and sickness in order to determine a possible cure. Patient information used to produce a lot of paperwork because everything was done by hand using a pen and paper. It was difficult to get past records. With the advent of technology in Africa, patients’ medical data can now be put into a cloud-based, and digitized system, thanks to the advent of digitalization. Practitioners, patients, and health billers can now access data and information with just a single click, almost at any time and anywhere.

Reduction in medical errors

Medical errors are a big public worry since they happen frequently and are an unavoidable part of human performance. According to studies, medical mistakes in health facilities are the third leading reason for death, with almost 98,000 people dying each year as a result of them. Fortunately, technology has aided the creation of solutions that have been proved to minimize medical errors and save even more lives not only in Africa but globally.

Improved patient care

Technology could improve patient participation by giving information which could be used to develop hyper-targeted, personalized health and wellness strategies. Wearable technologies including fitness trackers can track one’s blood pressure, providing individualized data to the patients and professionals. Calorie counts, appointments, activity checks, blood pressure fluctuations, and a lot of other information can be displayed on such devices.

Specialists can better track patients’ health, including adherence to treatment regimens and other factors. This is especially important for older people and those who live alone, as relatives or worried medical providers will be notified immediately if any abnormalities are discovered. As a result, such technological devices ensure that patients receive excellent care, thereby improving the patient experience. Leveraging such technology could be a game-changer in Africa

Cost reduction

Medical errors cost Africa’s clinics and hospitals millions every year. The decrease in medical mistakes directly decreases costs for both the patients and healthcare professionals. By leveraging techniques to minimize prescription and diagnosis errors Clinics can save 3% on outpatient care by switching from paper to electronic medical records. A cloud EMR minimizes the use of paper in practice as well as the cost of numerous additional errors. This is particularly critical in Africa, where resources are limited. The money saved can be put to better use elsewhere.

Better patient education

In the health care system, patient education has become very essential, and clinicians are adopting technologies that could help inform and involve patients. There are softwares and programs that have been developed to offer patients personalized health information based on their specific requirements and conditions. For instance, the Patient Electronic Portal is a secure online tool which allows patients to access their health information and also two-way electronic contact with their healthcare practitioner by computer or mobile device.

Bottomline

The African healthcare system continues to be hindered by inadequate resources and financing, but innovative technological solutions are opening up new avenues for enhancing access to medical care. Health technology on the continent is primed for tremendous growth, thanks to advancements sparked by the pandemic.

There are still numerous obstacles to overcome in order to provide consistent and high-quality care. There is still a great deal of work to be done. More creativity is required. Fortunately, progress is being done on a daily basis. Small miracles occur frequently. There is a ray of hope, a better future awaits.