Software has been developed to let field workers send and receive data on disease outbreaks and patient treatment via mobile handsets. The system, which was developed by technology vendor Voxiva and mobile operator trade association GSMA, is being piloted in Rwanda.
As well as submitting data to a central database, doctors will be able to order medicine.
Data is sent over Rwanda’s GPRS mobile network, or, in areas with no GPRS coverage, by SMS.
The cost of implementing the system in Rwanda is estimated to be $1 million.
Indonesia is also planning to test the Java application to fight a potential bird flu pandemic.
