Mobile phones are improving access to health care in the developing world, according to the series “The Future of mHealth” by Mobiledia, a Forbes contributor. “People in developing nations depend on mobile phones to access health services and prevent disease, as mobile technology creates a platform for improving health care in remote, underserved areas,” the news service writes. The article highlights public health programs in Haiti and Kenya that utilize mobile technology and notes, “Mobile banking is on the rise in the developing world, presenting another opportunity for mobile health to grow.”

“In African nations with limited banking services and computer access, people use cell phones to send money to family and friends, pay bills and track their savings,” the news service writes, adding, “The same technology could soon further mobile health initiatives as well, allowing people to save credits toward future health needs, for example, or distributing mobile payment incentives to villagers who immunize their children.” It concludes, “As mobile devices proliferate worldwide, they create a route to health care access in areas where traditional medical services are in short supply, forming a base for communication, treatment, and funding to improve public health” (Maragioglio, 2/10).