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Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research

Date Submitted: Jun 24, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Jul 2, 2024 - Aug 27, 2024
Date Accepted: Oct 23, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

Africa’s Digital Health Revolution: The Digital Fit-Viability Model to Move From Innovation to Scaled Implementation

Ngatia A, Jiwa A, Benali K, Boehmer N, Delle S, Emedom-Nnamdi P, Fofie CO, O’Brien C, Obayabgona K, Olatunji T, Tambe M, Fletcher RR, Hedt-Gauthier B, Boatin AA

Africa’s Digital Health Revolution: The Digital Fit-Viability Model to Move From Innovation to Scaled Implementation

J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e63495

DOI: 10.2196/63495

PMID: 41534074

PMCID: 12853090

Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.

Africa’s Digital Health Revolution: Leapfrogging Challenges to Deliver Healthcare for All

  • Antony Ngatia; 
  • Afra Jiwa; 
  • Karim Benali; 
  • Niclas Boehmer; 
  • Sangu Delle; 
  • Patrick Emedom-Nnamdi; 
  • Chris Opoku Fofie; 
  • Christine O’Brien; 
  • Kate Obayabgona; 
  • Tobi Olatunji; 
  • Milind Tambe; 
  • Richard Ribon Fletcher; 
  • Bethany Hedt-Gauthier; 
  • Adeline Adwoa Boatin

ABSTRACT

Proposed Article Abstract: In the African context, digital health solutions can leapfrog numerous health systems challenges to delivering effective and high quality care. However, the last 25 years of digital health innovation for Africa has resulted in numerous prototypes with very few implemented and sustained at large scales. In this viewpoint, we discuss opportunities for [HB2] and challenges in developing , evaluating and scaling digital technologies that are context specific to sub-Saharan Africa. We then explore a ‘people, process, tech’ approache to empower stakeholders to effectively navigate this complex landscape: bundling interventions, committing to open source, focusing on systems and technology integration[HB4] , and becoming the platform. We will illustrate these strategic approaches with case studies from the African continent.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Ngatia A, Jiwa A, Benali K, Boehmer N, Delle S, Emedom-Nnamdi P, Fofie CO, O’Brien C, Obayabgona K, Olatunji T, Tambe M, Fletcher RR, Hedt-Gauthier B, Boatin AA

Africa’s Digital Health Revolution: The Digital Fit-Viability Model to Move From Innovation to Scaled Implementation

J Med Internet Res 2026;28:e63495

DOI: 10.2196/63495

PMID: 41534074

PMCID: 12853090

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