Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Improving Health Services in North Pakistan through eHealth

last updated Sep 27, 2011

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Agha Khan University
Implementation Partner(s): 
Agha Khan Foundation
Legal Status: 
Private (not-for-profit)
Year Launched: 
2008
Stage: 
Pilot/startup stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%, 20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Other 3rd party (e.g. debt, equity), Out-of-pocket payments

Technology

Technology Used: 
Phones
Summary: 

Improving Health Services in Northern Pakistan through eHealth is a pilot project, initiated by Aga Khan University and funded by Aga Khan Foundation, Geneva. It aims to explore the use of mobile technologies such as GPRS and Edge in remote mountainous areas where fibre-optic connectivity is not widely available, and satellite connectivity is either expensive or blocked due to border restrictions.

Key program components: 

The project has the following objectives:

  • To develop a tele-consultation link between different levels of health centers for patient management, triage and referral of MCH using e-Health
  • To promote Continuing Professional Development for healthcare providers in MCH through distance learning programmes at their health facilities
  • To develop a link with the field office for regular transfer of information to support monitoring

After completion of the pilot project, contact between health care providers at different levels for tele-consultations shall be enhanced with a response time less than 24 hours. This would also result in more immediate response in terms of patient counseling, treatment, and referral to the next level of care. The expected project outputs include the following:

  • Avoidance of unnecessary referrals
  • Decreased travel facilities providing higher levels of care
  • Efficient referrals (managed referrals for emergencies)
  • Decreased cost for patients

Once completed, the project will result in quality improvements to the tele-consultations technology and increased supervisory contact between health centre staff and field offices, leading to cost savings in terms of information gathering and supervisory visits during medical treatments.

Results from this pilot are being used by AKHS, P to connect its other centers in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The findings are also being used to broaden partnerships with the Aga Khan Foundation in terms of spreading the e-Health Network to other parts of Central Asia, and with the Pakistani Government to link other mountainous regions of Pakistan, including Kashmir.

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