India's Experience with ICT in the Health Sector: Lessons for Sub
CSD Working Paper Series: Towards a New Indian Model of Information and Communications Technology-Led Growth and Development India’s Experience with ICT in the Health Sector: Lessons for sub-Saharan Africa ICT India Project Working Paper #51 Nirupam Bajpai and Manisha Wadhwa June 2021 CSD Working Paper Series – India’s Experience with ICT in the Health Sector: Lessons for sub- Saharan Africa Abstract Health systems challenges of northern and eastern India are similar to those in sub-Saharan Africa. Both India and Africa suffer from acute shortage of doctors, most notably specialists, like ophthalmologists, radiologists, cardiologists, oncopathologists and many more. The specialists and their services are concentrated in cities leaving rural areas isolated from their support. In India, around 68% of the population lives in rural areas where there is acute shortage of doctors and health care specialists. In sub-Saharan Africa, on average, there are less than 10 doctors per 100,000 people, and there is not even a single radiologist in 14 countries. India and Africa suffer from high burden of infectious diseases, emerging epidemic of non-communicable diseases, double burden of malnutrition, urbanisation, limited healthcare workforce, shortage of drugs and supplies, weak monitoring and evaluation systems, lack of follow-up care, limited financing mechanisms etc. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), India and Africa share a common vision of providing universal health coverage (UHC) to their populations. Both the regions are accelerating in developing healthcare innovations, supported by various factors such as increased use of smartphones, expanding healthcare markets and strong policy initiatives in healthcare.
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