M-Health?

 M-banking, m-commerce and now m-health? In Africa, this notion is turning into a reality thanks to MTN, Africa’s largest telecom group. Based in South Africa, MTN has become the first mobile operator in the Phones-for-Health initiative, a public-private partnership to help address HIV/AIDS and other health issues in Africa.

The company is subsidising the distribution of handsets and providing network support to enable health workers across the continent to order medicines, download treatment guidlines and interact with a health authorities. Laudatory behavour, to be sure, but with operating margins a healthy 31%, the company can afford to be generous.

Still, this isn’t just altruism on MTN’s part. More than 60% of Africa’s population now lives in areas with mobile phone coverage and that figure should rise to 85% by 2010. As more phones are distributed and more uses found for its networks, the more the MTN’s sales and profits will benefit. Enlightened self-interest anybody?