Mobile health has the potential for “catalytic intervention” through its ability to prevent illness and expand healthcare, said Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, South Africa’s Deputy Minister for Health, speaking at the Mobile Health Summit in Cape Town. However, she also said that South Africa has invested “almost R4 billion” (US$480 million) in various ICT health projects but because of challenges, particularly interoperability, the country has “not realised value for money”. The country’s response has been to approve an ehealth strategy that represents a more integrated approach to how IT investment in health, including mhealth, is made, she said.