BETTEReHEALTH project initiated to support eHealth solutions, improved outcomes in low-income African nations

The BETTEReHEALTH initiative has kicked off with partners in both Europe and Africa, with the objective of coordinating and supporting the deployment of what they term “sustainable eHealth solutions” in low and lower middle income countries (LLMICs) in Africa. The group of 11 project partners from Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Malawi, Tunisia, Ghana, and Ethiopia aim to create better health outcomes through better healthcare accessibility and higher quality, leveraging eHealth and healthcare technology.

The initiative will map and identify various human, technical, and public policy factors in eHealth implementation, and from there derive strategies and policies for successful eHealth leading to improved population health. Another objective is to develop new and existing strategic partnerships in Africa, plus European and African stakeholders in healthcare, research, education, business, and government. It is also creating open access registries on eHealth policies and solution information to identify best practices.

BETTEReHEALTH received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101017450, going to December 2022.

Organized around “Better eHealth is Better Health,” project coordinator partner spokesperson Morten Dalsmo, Executive Vice President at SINTEF and Head of SINTEF Digital, one of Europe’s largest independent research organizations, said: “BETTEReHEALTH is an important contribution to improve the quality of health services and increase access to health for underserved populations in Africa. This project is very much in line with SINTEF’s vision “technology for a better society” and our commitment to the sustainable development goals. SINTEF has valuable experience from projects in eHealth and digital health and in addition to coordinating BETTEReHEALTH, we aim to share these experiences with the consortium and the health authorities in African countries. Furthermore, SINTEF and our partners have an extensive network in Africa. BETTEReHEALTH aims for stakeholders in Africa and Europe to connect and make new partnerships with the overall purpose of better health outcomes.” 

The initiative is setting up four regional hubs in Tunisia, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Malawi, endorsed by each country’s Ministry of Health, an important factor in their effectiveness.  The four host countries will implement policies, roadmaps, and strategic plans first to serve as models for all other African countries in the project.  Release.  Hat tip to Frederic Lievens of Ets. Lievens-Lanckman, Belgium, and the International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth (ISfTeH).

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