mPower Social Enterprise www.mpower.social.com from Bangladesh received an award for their mobile healthcare app connecting rural patients to doctors from USAID as part of their Regional Development Mission’s “Mobiles for Development” (M4D) program recognizing mobile services in Southeast Asia.
The judges picked mPower for their user-friendly, functional, and strong business model.mPower will use the M4D’s $10,000 to prototype their app in Myanmar where healthcare services particularly in rural areas are difficult to access. The company plans to expand their “Doctor in a Tab” to provide remote medical consultations over a tablet device service in Myanmar in partnership with mobile network operator Telenor.
The mobile healthcare app is currently reaching 200 locations in Bangladesh and has served over 1,200 clients to date. The service includes a tablet application enabling rural health intermediaries to collect basic health data on patients and connects them via video conferencing with doctors in urban areas who can diagnose their illness and prescribe treatment.
Another top finalist to receive an award was Ooredoo Myanmar www.ooredoo.com.mm for their device called “MayMay” a maternal health app for women in Myanmar focusing on pregnant women and their partners, families, and communities. The app provides a wealth of maternal, child health, and wellness information during and after pregnancy.
The app sends tailored maternal advice alerts and connects women with healthcare providers in the area. Although the app is still in beta form, the app has already been downloaded more than 6,000 times and is projected to reach up to 700,000 users in Myanmar within the next five years.