Clackmannanshire medical testing firm Omega Diagnostics has signed up to be a partner in an innovative healthcare initiative which is targeting sub-Saharan Africa.
The Special Mobile Association (GSMA) scheme will use mobile telecommunications systems to roll-out healthcare messages and testing platforms to an estimated 15.5 million audience of pregnant women and mothers of children under the age of five.
Other collaborators in the scheme include Gemalto, Hello Doctor, Lifesaver, Mobenzi, Mobilium, MTN and electronics giant Samsung whose tablets and mobile phones will be used to deliver services direct into patients hands.
For Alva-based Omega, the initiative will help it to increase visibility and usage of its CD4 HIV testing kit and allow information to be relayed back and forth from healthcare institutions to remote locations in the field.
The initial phase of the roll-out will see the partners jointly launch the service in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia this September.
Phase two will kick in next year when additional partners are expected to come on board as the project expands its reach into Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.
Omega founder and chief executive Andrew Shepherd said the GSMA scheme provided a vital bridge between patients living in rural destinations and healthcare professionals.
“Current lab-based static diagnostics tools are unable to meet growing patients’ needs as countries step up their HIV treatment programs,” Mr Shepherd said.
“Multi-layer partnerships for mHealth smartphone applications are poised to become an essential foundation in the bridge to augment the continuum of care to the neediest patients, whilst also providing management information and real-time surveillance data.”
Thabiet Allie, head of content and services at Samsung Electronics Africa, said mobile technology had greatly benefited health services in the region.
“The healthcare industry is moving towards a delivery model that is more patient-centred, value-based and accessible in even remote environments,” Mr Allie said.
“In this regard, Samsung is perfectly positioned to add value to this digital evolution in healthcare.”
GSMA chief regulatory officer Tom Phillips said the system allowed the mobile communications and healthcare industries to develop commercially sustainable services that met public health needs.
“The companies in this partnership are working to deliver the objectives of the United Nations Every Women Every Child Global Strategy, as well as the Global Nutrition for Growth Compact, in the areas of nutrition and maternal and child health.
“We call on mobile ecosystem players, health providers, governments, NGOs, civil society and others to work with us to launch life-saving mobile health services.”
Omega’s association with the GSMA scheme comes a week after the firm revealed a 40% hike in preliminary pre-tax profits to £1.1 million on the back of a 3% increase in sales to £11.6m.