Switzerland-based global healthcare company Novartis has launched a tech-based healthcare program called SMS for Life 2.0 in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

The program is a joint public-private partnership, spearheaded by Novartis, in association with partners the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and mobile network operator Vodacom.

Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis, said, "Companies must join forces with the public sector to co-create innovative solutions to improve access to healthcare around the world. This is the first step in what we hope will be an impactful public health initiative, unleashing the potential of mobile technology and big data to increase the quality of care for underserved patients."

In a media statement announcing the launch Novartis said the SMS for Life 2.0 builds on the SMS for Life program launched in 2009 which used mobile phones to manage stock-outs of malaria medicines to over 10,000 healthcare facilities across Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to the healthcare company the SMS for Life 2.0 program will now use smartphones and tablet computers to address key operational challenges at peripheral healthcare facilities in Kaduna State.

"Local healthcare workers will be able to track stock levels of essential antimalarials, vaccines, and HIV, TB and leprosy treatments, and send notifications to district medical officers when stock levels are low. The program will also monitor surveillance parameters of malaria, maternal and infant deaths and seven other diseases, including measles, yellow fever and cholera. In addition, SMS for Life 2.0 will enable training of healthcare workers in local facilities using on-demand eLearning modules," the company explains.

Dr. Hadiza S. Balarabe, Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said "We welcome the introduction of SMS for Life 2.0 in primary healthcare facilities, where we often face stockouts of medicines. With more than six million people, Kaduna is Nigeria's third most populous state. We hope the program will improve healthcare services by expanding access to essential medicines, thus reducing disease prevalence in communities."

The venture partners add that medicines do not always reach the patients who need them, particularly those living in remote areas. Running out of stock is a major hurdle in ensuring access to essential treatments.

"By increasing stock visibility, health authorities will be able to monitor stock levels of these medicines in real time. Furthermore, disease surveillance data combined with the stock reporting function can improve supply chain management, by allowing authorities to better forecast demand for the treatments. This will help to ensure people get the medicines they need in a timely fashion," says Novartis.