Evaluating the eHealth Impact in Africa

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Dr Sean Broomhead celebrated a major milestone in his career when he was awarded a PhD in Telehealth for his pioneering study titled: A Framework for Evaluating eHealth Impact in Africa.

As the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Information Systems Programme (HISP) South Africa, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing health information systems, Broomhead’s doctorate is the culmination of years of hard work towards helping improving healthcare access and equity across the continent.

From the West Rand in Gauteng, Broomhead’s journey was shaped by his upbringing in a family committed to social justice - his mother was an anti-apartheid activist, which instilled in him a deep sense of fairness and value. These principles guided him in the field of Medicine, where he worked as a young doctor in some of the most underserved areas of South Africa. However, his experiences in these remote regions highlighted the inefficiencies and inequities in the health system, sparking his interest in exploring innovative solutions.

This passion led Broomhead to immerse himself in the world of eHealth where he saw a unique opportunity to bridge the gaps in healthcare delivery. His PhD research focused on developing an eHealth Investment Appraisal Framework (eHIAF) specifically tailored for Africa - a tool designed to help policymakers better evaluate potential eHealth investments, even in environments with limited resources and data.

‘The World Health Organization (WHO) has long advocated for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), where everyone has access to the health services they need without financial hardship,’ said Broomhead. ‘In Africa, the WHO encourages the use of eHealth to combat high disease burdens despite constrained resources. My framework is intended to support this goal by guiding policymakers through a structured process to identify the most impactful eHealth initiatives.’

The eHIAF is a six-stage process that begins with establishing a compact with key stakeholders and progresses through data collection, economic modelling and affordability assessments, ultimately leading to the selection of the best investment options. The framework’s flexibility allows for increasingly detailed assessments as more information becomes available, ensuring that decisions are well-informed and sustainable.

Looking to the future, Broomhead is determined to expand his work, combining predictive analytics with a clear focus on value-driven initiatives to transform healthcare across Africa. ‘We have a real chance to turn the tide and significantly improve health outcomes on the continent,’ he said, with a vision as expansive as the impact his work is poised to achieve.

Words and photograph: MaryAnn Francis