ABSTRACT
In this chapter, an overview of the role of technology in delivery healthcare in Sub-Sahara Africa is presented. Basically, the chapter makes it clear that information technology presents the biggest opportunity for improving quality of life on a continent that is geographically dispersed and coupled with poverty. Additionally, the chapter sets out how there is no widespread application of information technology in the delivery of healthcare due to financial constraints, and lack of policy direction. Nonetheless, those healthcare organizations which are leveraging technology in the delivery of healthcare have demonstrated that it is not just relatively cheap to invest in technology but, most importantly, that improved quality of life and efficiency can be guaranteed. Furthermore, the chapter captures some top technological trends advancing efficient healthcare delivery in Africa, such as telemedicine, virtual reality, mobile financial services, and cloud technology, internet of things, drone technology, counterfeit detectors, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital communication tools. In effect, the chapter discusses the current level of information technology and quality of healthcare, how quality improvement and management are currently carried out, and the evidence that more investment in technology will substantially improve healthcare delivery, which is certainly a vision of the future. Finally, it shows how the public–private partnership is relevant in achieving widespread application of technology in healthcare.
