The increasing utilization of mobile phones has helped fuel the mHealth sector, a field within healthcare. mHealth offers great promise in its potential for improving the health of individuals in developing countries. Uganda, having experienced a rapid expansion in mobile phone subscriptions and a simultaneous growth in mHealth projects, is an ideal setting wherein to empirically examine how mHealth impacts health outcomes. I make the argument that mHealth programs, utilizing the channel of mobile phones, can have a significant positive impact on individual health as evidenced by breakthroughs in telemedicine, mobile banking and remote diagnosis to name a few. My study utilizes a difference in difference framework to empirically test this hypothesis. I hope that both my paper and talk will inspire the audience to reflect on how the rapidly evolving technologies of our times can be best utilized to address the concerns of underprivileged populations.
