Digital health in Africa: myth or reality?

Abstract

This subject is part of introducing new information and communication technologies (ICT) in the world's health system, particularly in Africa. This reality, which contributes to improving care practices, faces significant challenges in Africa, whose infrastructural realities are still unsuitable in some localities. In its descriptive and analytical approach, this article examines the implications of new technologies in the health field in Africa. It is in this sense that the expected results have shown that digital health in the African world is not free of challenges and limitations: it is thus a myth because the African rural world does not have access to digital facilities in terms of health and reality in the urbanised African world which offers opportunities to practice it. It has been shown that the rate of health digitalisation is still low in Africa. The coverage rate is estimated at 17.75%. These figures, obtained from data on African regions, show that digital health is relatively less important in terms of overall coverage.