THE GLOBAL SOUTH E-HEALTH OBSERVATORY “EHEALTH: LOCAL EXPERTISE SUPPORTING GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT” 2 JULY 2018

On 2 July 2018, Fondation Pierre Fabre hosted its 3rd Global South eHealth Observatory annual conference at its En Doyse head office in the Tarn region of southern France.

The Observatory Awards Ceremony was one of the highlights of this immersive review of the eHealth ecosystem in Africa and Asia.

More than 120 solutions have been identified and documented, including a field survey. Fondation Pierre Fabre selected 6 of these initiatives, and invited their sponsors to the conference to present their projects.

All these winners received a full year of support from the Foundation and its partners. The support package includes a total budgetary envelope of €100,000, the provision of support services (mentoring, equipment, etc.) and participation in skills building workshops led by international experts.

This day was also notable for the lively discussions involving eHealth experts from the French Development Agency, the Asia eHealth Information Network and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa.

Creation of an African Inter-University Degree in e-Health

Having become aware of the need for eHealth training and education tailored to the contexts specific to the Global South, the University of Bamako proposed the introduction of an Inter-University Degree in eHealth focused on innovation and hands-on experience in the field as an appropriate response to priority health problems.

Designed specifically for those involved in eHealth delivery in the Global South, this course will be delivered in partnership with Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, the University of Cocody in Abidjan and Fondation Pierre Fabre. An Innovation and Digital Health Laboratory will be created to offer a clearly defined and professional academic structure within the Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology (FMOS) in Bamako that will enable development of the course, as well as research in eHealth.