Digital and Telehealth platforms that can be life-changing in Cameroon.
The implementation of digital health and telehealth in developed nations has been a huge success in improving access to healthcare and reducing healthcare costs. Developed nations have implemented various digital and telehealth solutions such as remote patient monitoring, teleconsultations, and electronic health records. These solutions have greatly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system. As a result, countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon, can learn from the experience of developed nations in implementing digital and telehealth to improve the healthcare system. The healthcare system in Cameroon is characterized by a scarcity of healthcare professionals, inadequate infrastructure, and large rural populations, all of which make it difficult for people to access healthcare. Telehealth has the potential to bridge these gaps and improve access to care.
One of the ways that Cameroon and other sub-Saharan African countries can learn from developed nations is by implementing remote patient monitoring systems. These systems allow healthcare providers to monitor the health of patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, remotely. This can be as simple as measuring your blood pressure at home and reporting the value to a physician over a mobile device who can communicate treatment changes back to you without the need to go to the hospital. This can significantly improve patient outcomes by allowing healthcare providers to intervene in a timely manner and reduce the burden on the healthcare system.
Another way that Cameroon can improve health outcomes is by encouraging and implementing teleconsultation systems. Teleconsultation allows healthcare providers to consult with patients or with specialists remotely, which can improve access to care for people living in remote and underserved areas. This can reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to receive specialized care and improve the healthcare system’s efficiency while improving health outcomes.
A third way and perhaps the most resource-demanding way that Cameroon and other sub-Saharan African countries can learn from developed nations is by implementing electronic health records (EHR) systems. Electronic health records can greatly improve the efficiency of the healthcare system by allowing healthcare providers to access patient information in a timely manner, preventing duplication of lab and imaging tests, and preventing loss of information often encountered with paper documentation. Initial costs of implementing an EHR will likely be high but can potentially save millions in the long run.
Implementation of digital health and telehealth platforms in sub-Saharan Africa, including Cameroon, faces significant challenges. These include lack of infrastructure, including reliable electricity and internet connectivity, lack of trained healthcare professionals, and legal and regulatory barriers, such as issues around patient privacy and data security. These barriers must be overcome through public and private investments in order for digital health and telehealth to reach its full potential.
Dr. Dzekem is a physician, researcher and a health policy advocate. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of Buea and practiced as a primary care physician in Cameroon before moving to the University of Ibadan, Nigeria for post graduate studies and eventually to the United States as an Inaugural Obama Scholar where he obtained a Master in Public Health Policy and International Development, with focus on global health and health systems from the Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago. He is completing residency training at UChicago Medicine. Dr. Dzekem has served as a speaker at international conferences, he is the author/co-author to several articles in peer-reviewed journals and a reviewer for the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the Keafon Health. He has special interest in strengthening health systems and improving access to primary care in underserved communities.
