Strategic Partnerships in e-Health in Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries in Africa

Abstract

Strategic partnerships are very important for the successful deployment of e-health as they play a crucial role in achieving common goals and creating an added value for the involved partners. In this paper, we will provide relevant information about strategic partnerships in e-health deployment in four African countries, namely Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, and Tunisia. A Partnership Assessment Tool is developed to analyze different aspects of partnerships and classify them. According to the analysis, 11 partnerships were strategic amongst the 15 identified. Findings analysis also shows that certain aspects, mainly sustainability, have to be enhanced to guarantee the impact of partnerships after the ending of its actions. Increased governmental support is required in addition to international funding resources to the successful deployment of e-health in the participating countries.