Experts reveal the "invisible killer" of African health systems is not a lack of tech, but the fragmentation caused by uncoordinated stakeholders

A provocative new analysis by experts at ICTWorks identifies a critical "invisible killer" undermining African health systems: the rampant fragmentation of digital health initiatives. While funding for health technology has surged, the lack of coordination among donors, governments, and NGOs has led to a chaotic landscape of disconnected pilot projects. This phenomenon, often termed "pilotitis," results in multiple incompatible systems operating within the same region, none of which can share data. The consequences are severe. Health ministries are left with fragmented data silos that make national planning impossible, while frontline workers are burdened with duplicate data entry across different devices. The experts argue that the solution is not more technology, but better governance and adherence to interoperability standards. They call for a paradigm shift where stakeholders align under a single national digital health strategy. By prioritizing unified architectures over isolated apps, African nations can build resilient health systems capable of delivering continuity of care and accurate, actionable health intelligence.

Read the original article at: https://www.ictworks.org/invisible-killer-of-african-health-information-systems/

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