Working Paper #1
by Kaakpema Yelpaala and Michael Kubayanda
July 2006

Abstract

Information communications technology (ICT) has revolutionized the interconnectivity of the globe, increased production capacity and efficiency, and reduced the cost of international business. Within the health sector, ICT provides many opportunities to improve health outcomes and alleviate health inequalities through ICT solutions and initiatives. These options include electronic medical records, telemedicine, health education through the internet and other approaches. In the context of sub-Saharan Africa, this is a new field – governments, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are exploring ways to make ICT in health more widespread. However, the topic is not free from debate about the practicality and feasibility of scaling up health-related ICT programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Opportunities to utilize ICT in the health sector are constrained by a number of critical challenges within the realms of ICT Policy, Information Communications Infrastructure (ICI), and the ability of people to use basic IT applications (also known as E-Readiness). This paper explores the viability of ICT in the health sector in sub-Saharan Africa, exploring policy options and best-practice approaches. Furthermore, it presents an analytical framework for assessing the types of projects that may make sense in different settings in sub-Saharan Africa.

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