Cameroon is keen to explore ICT to bolster its healthcare capability.

Cameroon is keen to explore ICT to bolster its healthcare capability, according to the country's Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Minette Libom Li Likeng.

At a recent cabinet meeting in the capital Yaounde, the Minister said the digital economy development centre would support this drive and the focus would be on the development of digital solutions and ‘Made in Cameroon’ applications in the health sector.

One example is GiftedMom, an app and SMS service which enables pregnant women and new mothers to remotely consult with health experts for check-ups and get advice on antenatal care.

Li Likeng believes start-ups, which are likely to emerge through the initiative, will encourage the development of telemedicine, including online analysis of cardiology parameters, online consultations with medical doctors, etc.

The government is also aiming to reinforce privacy around medical records by improving health information systems and also interlink public health facilities going forward.

This is expected to ease information exchange, transfer of patients, referrals, amongst others.

During the cabinet meeting, Minister Li Likeng also announced the adoption of a five-year Strategic Plan for Digital Health, to run from 2020 to 2024.

Cameroon is working towards compliance with a 2018 World Health Assembly Resolution on Digital Health which urges countries to, among other factors, “evaluate their use of digital technologies for health, including health information systems at the national and subnational levels…”

Since 2010, Cameroon has elevated ICT as a strategic priority as it seeks to become an emerging economy by 2035.