What are the strategies and opportunities for dealing with the problem of absent infrastructure for health delivery?

Poor infrastructure complicates development and management of health delivery. New technologies for health delivery could minimize the need for expensive physical infrastructure. Conference participants will share knowledge about how to integrate new technology concepts for health within the complexity of health systems, which requires coordination of water and sanitation, civil service reform, and health financing policies. Dialogue will center on creative role of new technologies in the interdependent and disparate systems spanning a broad range of sectors, which require local and international partners. 

What are the strategies and opportunities for dealing with the problem of inability to read and write among the consumers of global health?

The use of medical, information, and communication technologies such as mHealth, eHealth, and telemedicine applications requires literacy skills. Patients must understand and interpret basic health information in ways that enhance health. Patients must understand their medication, nutrition, and treatment regime to manage their disease. Technological applications can enhance this knowledge, but patients with low health literacy are less likely to use technology for information health information. What are the challenges in this regard?

What are the strategies and opportunities for enhancing formal education among the consumers of global health?

Lack of education inhibits effective use of mHealth, eHealth, and telemedicine. Education determines the risk of developing a disease. Less educated patients frequently make unhealthy lifestyle choices and are less likely to utilize mHealth, eHealth, or telemedicine applications. Patients with less education are also less likely to turn to technology for information on healthier lifestyle choices, disease management, and remote consultation with a provider.

What are the strategies for managing the financial challenge to create opportunity for access in low-income conditions?

Inability to gain access to technology is a major challenge to reach. Technology can lack because providers can not perceive incentive to invest in certain regions of the world. For example, mobile phone consumes chargeable minutes,which cost money. Extra minutes needed for medical consultation may not be affordable to many people living in developing countries. Mobile operators generate significantly less revenue from customers in emerging markets than they do from customers in more developed regions [12].  For example, major carriers in the U.S. can expect to generate about $50 in revenue per subscriber per month. Brazil’s 80 million people have a family income of less than $400 per month. In this population, telephone companies expect between $3.50 to $7 in revenue per user per month [12].

How are players in the field customizing technological applications to meet the needs of this diversity in local conditions?

Cultural diversity and language in developing countries are limitations of mHealth, eHealth, and telemedicine applications. Various cultural values, belief systems, and customs affect how patients are willing to care for their health.