IPSF Statement on mHealth

delivered at the 142nd WHO Executive Board Meeting

 


Statement on the 142nd WHO EB agenda point

4.4 mHealth

The International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation is the voice of over 350,000

pharmacy students and recent graduates in 88 different countries worldwide.

IPSF supports the outlined recommendations in progressing mHealth with the primary
objectives of improving coverage of healthcare and access to health information. As
youth, we deem it especially important to embrace and advocate for these
technologies.

The potential benefits of modern mobile technology solutions cannot be ignored.

Several studies have shown that patients who use these technologies are more actively
engaged in their personal healthcare. This may result in improved adherence to
medical therapy, regular health check ups and beneficial lifestyle changes. Medication
adherence, in particular, has been reported to improve through mHealth, especially in
patients with complex therapies. The increasing numbers of technology ownership,
especially in LICs and LMICs, likewise support this premise.

IPSF firmly believes, however, that there are several important aspects to consider in
the implementation of mHealth. Namely, the data provided to patients needs strict
verification from clinicians, to ensure efficient and safe care delivery. As such,
technology can only complement traditional care through close involvement of
pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in both development and oversight. In
addition, miscommunication must be minimized by using appropriate, easy to
understand language.

In conclusion, IPSF highlights the importance of appropriately educating healthcare

students on the use of mHealth, as current curricula rarely include these topics in
pharmaceutical studies. With a paradigm shift in care delivery, future health workers’
competencies must not fall behind. For a successful implementation of the proposed
priority areas, a collaborative effort between MSs and WHO will be crucial. Together,
with the increased alignment of existing healthcare practices in different countries, the
mutual integration of e- and mHealth platforms is vital to the global health community.