ISQUA18-2446Democratizing Healthcare Information for the Health Consumer in Africa

Abstract

Objectives: It is often said that the common thread that connects all citizens of sub-Saharan Africa is the lack of access to high quality healthcare services. One critical driver of this is the concurrent lack of access to transparent information about the geographic location and availability of licensed healthcare facilities, providers, pharmacies or laboratories that will provide quality services to consumers. In Nigeria, regulatory agencies, providers and patients alike are unified in their desire for credible and reliable quality healthcare provision in Nigeria. In this paper, we share how we've designed and scaled a dynamic geo-coded repository of health services across Nigeria for mobile and web to address the harmful effects of information asymmetry. We will describe how we have leveraged user design principles and together with multiple stakeholders have developed a publicly available system, Navi healthTMwith feedback that enables consumers to make more informed choices about their care and drives responsiveness and improved communication in providers. Method(s): Since 2015, data on health services, health providers, contact details and licensure status has been collected at facilities in Lagos by a data team canvassing door to door. The data collected at these sites has in turn been triangulated with additional information from government regulatory agencies, NGOs working in the area as well as Google Maps API with subsequent verification using licensure or registration data from regulatory agencies. The data goes through a set of quality control processes before being made available on the app. The app, allows users to navigate health facilities in Lagos, Abuja and Ilorin. Result(s): Our data team has collected data on over 2000 healthcare facilities in Lagos (approximately 50% coverage), Ilorin and Abuja during our prototype phase. During this pre-scale phase, we have focused on user-centered design/testing, optimizing consumer/provider engagement, government linkage, determining optimal mechanics for scale. The value of the platform in driving use and responsiveness from citizen, provider and regulator is through the comprehensiveness and reliability of the data and the ease of use of the platform. Early testing of the platform has surprisingly led to demand from providers for increased robustness of the platform as they are using it to improve their referral process. Conclusion(s): Leveraging the power of mobile technology in low and middle income countries to empower consumers and providers in navigation of health services is critical. Participants will learn the following: 1. A three-phased approach to developing a mobile health services navigation platform for healthcare consumers. 2. The process of iterative co-design them with patients, practitioners and agencies. 3. The power of the public-private partnership in using technology to map and verify licensure of healthcare services. 4. Patient engagement and use of navigation tools in seeking care.