Digitalisation of medicine in LMICs (sub-Saharan Africa): enablers, barriers, and funding strategies for sustainable health systems

TL;DR

This paper discusses how digital health can improve healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa but warns that poor planning could increase inequalities.

Contribution

The paper provides insights into enablers, barriers, and funding strategies for sustainable digital health in LMICs.

Findings

Digital health tools can enhance outbreak preparedness and service delivery in LMICs.

Weak infrastructure and governance risk deepening health inequities.

Sustainable digital health requires alignment with national priorities and long-term financing.

Abstract

For the vast majority of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), universal health coverage is very difficult to achieve for a variety of reasons. Digitalisation of healthcare is promoted as a way to expand access and strengthen health systems, yet in many LMICs, including those in sub-Saharan Africa, digital initiatives remain fragmented, poorly coordinated, and underfunded. This article explores how digital health technologies can support outbreak preparedness, routine service delivery, and data-driven decision-making, and outlines the ethical, legal, social, and financial considerations that shape their sustainable adoption. Using real-world examples such as digital tools for infectious disease surveillance, biobanking and data governance models, and national digital health strategies, it highlights both the potential of digitalisation and the risk of widening inequities when infrastructure, regulation, and local ownership are weak. The article argues that digital health investments must align with country priorities, be embedded in robust governance frameworks, and be supported by long-term financing that balances public, private, and donor contributions to enable more coordinated and equitable implementation in LMICs.