If “necessity” is the mother of all invention, then there is no greater necessity than access to quality healthcare in developing nations and it is this fact that is driving innovation at a pace that developed countries just cannot compete with.

Mobile Health solutions are not only a necessity due to long distances, lack of infrastructure and high clinician to patient ratios, but they also make the most sense in nations where the mobile phone is the key communications device for individuals, business and sometimes entire communities.

This focus on mHealth, lack of hang-ups with existing infrastructure and communications legislation and will to bridge the gap in quality care with developed nations has been the catalyst for incredible growth. So much so that it’s now worthwhile and even advisable to be looking to developing nations for simple, efficient and effect solutions to global health problems.

If this is an area of interest or you are simply looking for a great primer resource for the mHealth market than have a look at the Mobile Health Solutions for Developing Countries 2010 published by the International Telecommunication Union (a United Nations Agency).

The report is 122 information packed pages and does a great job of capturing the requirements of an emerging mHealth market, outlines the technical aspects of the infrastructure requirements and provides excellent real world examples from a diverse group of emerging and developed nations including Algeria, India, Russia, Uganda and Nepal.

Resources:
Find the complete report online and available for download here,
Visit the International Telecommunication Union site here.

The subtitle “Squeezing the juice out of Healthcare” and the less than subtle Orange cover add a playful element to a rather serious document that make it much more accessible and decipherable for those who are not in the industry.

Not surprisingly more government regulations, cost cutting and the lingering effects of the economic crisis dominate the industry and receive a great deal of attention. The overall approach is however clearly forward looking with cautious optimism and a focus on sustainably rather than great leaps forward which is both sobering and realistic.

Preparing for convergence and integration of information, organizations and technologies as well as a greater shift to a consumer focus is clearly where the opportunities lie for healthcare in the coming year. A great deal of the foundations have been laid in all of these areas, however 2010 looks to be the year where we will collectively begin to see tangible results.

Finally innovation, engagement, networking and partnering are flushed out as major themes with social media and other global trends toward collaboration leaving a clear impression on the strategies and approaches considered by the analysts.

At a Glance

• The push for health reform is stirring up the industry, organizations are crawling out of the recession and the government is becoming more active.
• Success will hinge on squeezing the most value out of new and current relationships, impending regulatory changes and consumer demands.
• Each organization will have to understand new interdependencies and redefine its role as the health industry converges.

Resources:
Download Top ten health industry issues in 2010