Improving transparency in malaria programme funds: A business case for connected diagnostics in Kenya

Area of Science:

• Digital health innovations
• Health systems strengthening
• International health financing

Background:

• Vertical health financing programs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) risk inefficiently duplicating domestic funding streams.
• This duplication can lead to suboptimal service delivery and negatively impact health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential of digital diagnostics (ConnDx) for objective and transparent targeting and monitoring of health funds.
• To assess ConnDx's impact on health fund allocation efficiency and transparency in LMICs.

Main Methods:

• ConnDx was co-developed with the Kisumu Department of Health and implemented in five private health facilities in Kenya.
• Quantitative data from ConnDx was analyzed, alongside cost calculations comparing ConnDx to standard care.

Main Results:

• ConnDx identified 2199 malaria cases among 11,689 patients, pinpointing malaria hotspots and revealing patient and physician behavior patterns.
• An estimated 25% cost reduction is achievable with ConnDx, alongside improved monitoring of quality indicators.

Conclusions:

• ConnDx offers a scalable model for digital diagnosis and mobile payment integration, applicable to various medical conditions.
• The system empowers local health policymakers with data for targeted interventions, enhancing individual patient care and service quality.