BP Business Desk
Being the second largest RMG manufacturer in the world, self-sufficient in food production, and having a 73 percent literacy rate, Bangladesh is still stumbling to meet all the fundamental rights of its 164.7 million people. Though the country’s demography is standing against us in solving its land crisis, we still have some hope to realise the citizens’ right to health.
Moreover, the current pandemic of Coronavirus Diseases- 2019 (COVID- 19) has made it evident that even if we had proper healthcare, there might be times when medical facilities and counselling cannot be accessed in person.
The government’s plan to digitalise the health sector has already proven itself fruitful in fighting the crisis. The buzzword “Mobile Health” (mHealth), having its worth proven in industrialised nations, has been a beacon for the developing nations for some time now.
And Bangladesh, the lone country in South Asia to introduce it first in 2012, has the best chance of becoming an example to use the application to minimize its healthcare crisis. Considering our limitations to fight the spread of COVID-19, we must act smart. And mHealth has the potential to help us do so. From raising awareness to proper counselling to suggesting medication, the network-based service can render it all.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mHealth as medical and public health practice supported by mobile devices viz. cell-phones, patient monitoring devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other wireless devices.
While they recommend the doctor-patient ratio in a country to be 1:1000, Bangladesh has it at 6 doctors, nurses or midwives per 10,000 patients, which is second from the bottom among the South Asian countries. To rectify the situation, current telecommunication scene has the most potential to play some roles.
According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the number of mobile phone subscribers is 159.780 million till March 2019 while internet beneficiaries is 91.421 million. If these huge number of mobile-phone users could avail primary healthcare from registered doctors by using networks, the huge burden on the government hospitals might be subsided.
Though the government has taken some initiatives in this regard, there is always some room for improvement. The phone-numbers of each district and sub-district hospital of Bangladesh are given in the website of Directorate General of Health Services for doctors there to receive calls 24 hours. It was intended for local people to be able to receive free healthcare only by calling these numbers.
But absence of accountability in default of receiving a call can lead the patients not to rely on the service. Hence, the given facility may remain unenjoyed.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services data, Bangladesh launched “pregnancy care advice” through SMS in March 2010 with an aim to contribute in maternity health service to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 4 and 5.
In 2011, a WHO report titled “mHealth: New horizons for health through mobile technologies” said Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had reached 98 percent of its target population through SMS on health education. The report, however, said the messages were not provided in the mother tongue.
So, that might be a mentionable factor to be looked upon by the authorities. In 2014, a survey by UK: Institute of Development Studies found that over 225 different eHealth and mHealth initiatives were taken by both government and private sectors in Bangladesh.
Some mobile operators and digital health care service providers like Tonic are providing mHealth service through their platforms which have already gained some popularity. These carriers are rendering SMS services, sending Bangla voice messages, and also letting patients to consult with an expert in first person.
The experts then prescribe medications and medical advices to the patients over messages and even refer some hospitals or clinics in the patients’ area as per their convenience for further clarification in the future.
Underprivileged people in rural areas and crisis situations can always get benefit from their service.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to go on home quarantine. While health service is indeed scare in our country to fight this lethal virus, a little concern and some change in lifestyle can surely safeguard millions of lives. mHealth service can be a great help in this regard as people can not go outside to seek doctors’ advice. A 24/7 helpdesk in this crisis situation is going to contribute a lot in the community.
In order to make the best use of the mHealth application, public-private partnership may become a viable solution for the country. Developing more mHealth apps and merging experts from private sector will definitely help us overcome its limitations.
Most importantly, a broad and vivid policy should be formulated to move along with the implementation of ICT in health service sector. The unavailability of any such policy and regulatory framework in the sector to boost and direct the mHealth service is one of the toughest challenges in the sector and should be resolved as soon as possible to enjoy the most out it.
