Policy makers, donors and programme managers in low and middle-income countries are increasingly looking at m-health and e-health technology to implement their projects, according to a new study. Nonprofit group Results for Development Institute (R4D) found that the use of technology was a fundamental part in 176 of 657 privately funded health programmes in the developing world.  Despite growing usage, R4D pointed to shortcomings in funding, support and evaluation.

The study ashowed the central role for mobile technology: 42 percent of IT-enabled programmes extend geographic access to healthcare and 31 percent to improve communication between doctors and patients outside the clinic or hospital. Mobile technology is used in both scenarios.

In addition, the study found that the most common devices used in IT-enabled programmes were phones and computers with 71 percent and 39 percent respectively. The most common applications were voice (34 percent), software (32 percent) and text messaging (31 percent).

Despite the growing take-up R4D expressed reservations in its conclusion: "For successful implementation however more sustainable sources of funding, greater support for the adoption of new technologies and better ways of evaluating impact are required".

The organisation claims its study is the first to use a large sample size to determine the extent to which technology is impacting privately delivered healthcare for the poor in developing countries. R4D is a non-profit focused on a number of sectors in the developing world including health and education.