Dear HIFA colleagues,
I would like to thank all contributors of the 64 messages in our discussion so far, and Josephine Namitala, Uganda, one of the researchers in the mHealth-Innovate team, for her help in compiling these messages for us. You can download the full compilation here:
https://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/articles/2025-mHEALTH-INNOVATE-...
This discussion is open until 25 May and I invite more contributions so that we can benefit from your experience and expertise. Here again are the five topics we are discussing:
Topic 1: How can we maximise the positive aspects of informal mobile phone use (flexibility, convenience etc.)?
Topic 2: What strategies could be used to address the ways in which informal mobile phone use can blur boundaries between healthcare workers’ personal and work lives?
Topic 3: What strategies could be used to address the potential for informal mobile phone use to undermine patients’ privacy and confidentiality and the legal implications of informal use for healthcare workers?
Topic 4: What strategies could be used to help ensure that the healthcare system is not undermined when information is not formally shared and stored as a consequence of informal use?
Topic 5: What strategies could be used to address the cost implications of informal mobile phone use for healthcare workers?
To send a message, simply send email to hifa@hifaforums.org and we shall ensure it is distributed.
With thanks and best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org