The mHealth alliance (mHa) has published two reports, both of which point to gaps in the evidence base for mobile health, a key concern at the moment.

However, mHA says opportunities do exist to build more evidence in the field. To read the full reports, see here.

The first report looks directly at the evidence base for mobile health by using maternal, newborn and child health, also known as MNCH, as an example. The report is written by the mHA’s own William Philbrick.

The second report analyses the whole mobile health ecosystem, including the level of adoption of mobile services as part of wider health strategies; the amount of funding of mobile health by leading donors; quantity and quality of evidence; and the mHA’s own performance.

Among the findings of this report is that sub-Saharan Africa has the most identified mobile health projects when compared with Latin America and Asia.

It also noted a limited presence of formal mhealth policies globally.

Also limited is funding, says the report, with only 22 per cent of the leading 50 donors backing activities.

The study was conducted by Shariq Khoja, the mHA’s technical advisor for evidence, policy and capacity, alongside other staff members, consultants and partners.