How does joining the programme work?

​For mHealth solutions to be sustainable they need to be embedded in a country’s national health services. This is why the WHO-ITU joint programme aims to work with government partners from national ministries for Health and ICT.

The process for engagement typically begins by the programme focusing on countries where support for the programme has already been expressed by a government minister.

Once there is confirmed interest from the country, they are requested to show their support by contributing to the programme. In developed nations this is usually project financing. In developing countries where self-financing is impossible, countries are expected to offer political support and in-kind contributions, via partnership with local telecoms for example. This display of commitment is designed to ensure that the mHealth interventions have sufficient resources to make them sustainable after the WHO-ITU programme ceases its involvement in country activities.

A Letter of Intent will be signed outlining the agreement between the country and the WHO ITU Joint Programme. This should also include other national or UN partners involved. In the case of Costa Rica, for example, an agreement was signed between the Vice-President of Costa Rica, name, the ADG, MoH, PAHO regional rep, etc. in an official launch ceremony in Costa Rica. The Programme will then continue to work closely with the relevant government departments in order to ensure that the intervention development and implementation is done with their full working knowledge and understanding of the process.