Digital Health

Zimbabwe health workers receive PPE from donors

Digital Health

The Issue

Health systems in low- and middle-income countries are often fragmented, lack resources -- including enough trained health workers to deliver services —, and are reliant on paper-based records for data and decision making. Digital health has the potential to catalyze and accelerate public health goals in these settings by transforming data systems, making it easier to deliver health services directly to patients, and substantially support health workers and managers in their work.

However, adoption of digital health can be challenging in low-resource settings. Digital products are often ill-designed for these contexts, developers are disconnected from country needs, and there is limited capacity to manage, maintain, and continue to sustain digital platforms.

CHAI's Approach

CHAI is working to ensure that technology is used effectively to catalyze government health goals. We work with governments, developers, donors, and end users (health care providers, health systems managers, and patients) to design, develop, scale, and institutionalize fit-for-purpose digital products.

On the supply side, we support the development of digital health global goods, prioritizing the most critical problems while considering the use of a product across multiple countries. We bring user-centered design, strong technical product management, and a focus on scalability when developing products for low- and middle-income countries.

On the demand side, we drive implementation of digital tools and information systems for national scale. Our teams work closely with governments and end users to ensure the selection of appropriate technology to meet their needs, supporting strong planning and coordination throughout development and implementation, and enabling a governance and financing foundation for long-term use. We help governments sustainably roll out technology and drive its usage and institutionalization through change management processes to enable progressive gains in data quality, access, and use, with the ultimate goal of transitioning support and maintenance of digital solutions to ministries of health and local partners.

To date, CHAI has helped develop and improve multiple digital health platforms, including DHIS2, DHIS2 Android application, OpenLMIS, OpenSRP, and the GeoPrism Registry, and driven their uptake in over 20 countries.

Results

5
global health digital goods enhanced, including DHIS2 core, DHIS2 Android app, OpenLMIS, OpenSRP, and Geoprism Registry
20+
countries implementing these global digital goods at national scale with CHAI support
91%
decrease in reporting time lag for malaria focus investigation in Thailand

Join the Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions

Join the Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions
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