Mobile phones bring access to health information in Bangladesh

Grameenphone Ltd. won a global award for its innovative program to bring health care information to its subscribers through their mobile phones. The HealthLine Service, implemented in cooperation with the Telemedicine Reference Center Limited, is a 24-hour medical call center manned by licensed physicians and accessible to all Grameenphone subscribers. GP callers can seek health- related advice or consultation from a licensed doctor 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

Grameenphone was presented with the GSM Association's Global Mobile Award for ‘Best use of Mobile for Social and Economic Development' for its HealthLine Service at the 3GSM World Congress in the Spanish city of Barcelona in February 2007.Founded in 1987, the GSM Association (GSMA) is a global trade association representing more than 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 217 territories and countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association's initiatives as associate members. The Association's members serve more than 2 billion customers - over 82% of the world's mobile phone users.

The award was presented to Grameenphone CEO Erik Aas, during the GSMA's Annual Leadership Summit. "This was a very competitive category, we received more than 60 entries from operators, manufacturers, NGOs, charities and businesses and our independent judging panel had a real challenge on their hands to select a winner," said GSMA Chief Executive Rob Conway.

Some of the services initially available under this program include: Information on Doctor and Medical Facilities; Information on Drug or Pharmacy; Information on Laboratory Test Report (interpretation); Medical Advice/ Consultation from Doctor Help and advice during Medical (for registered subscribers); and  Emergency.

Last year, in cooperation with the GSMA, Grameenphone launched another unique service called the Community Information Centers (CICs) that serves rural areas that do not have any other access to the internet. The CICs are shared premises run by local entrepreneurs and designed to provide access to the Internet and other information-based services in rural areas through Grameenphone's nationwide EDGE connectivity. Presently, there are about 500 CICs in operation throughout Bangladesh.

This story is adapted from a news release about the award published on the Grameenphone website.

 


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