The China Center for mHealth Innovation

mHealth - transforming healthcare 

The use of mobile technology to improve access to healthcare and health outcomes is booming worldwide, yet inadequate focus on health system strengthening is one of the biggest barriers to mHealth having a transformative effect on health outcomes. mHealth can include anything from appointment reminders, call centres and emergency telephone services to text messaging health tips, mobile telemedicine and highly sophisticated real-time decision support for doctors and other health practitioners. The George Institute is committed to fi nding innovative ways for mobile technology to improve access to affordable and effective healthcare, to connect communities to their healthcare providers and services, and to promote community and patient-centred care. 

The China Center for mHealth Innovation (CCMHI) 

With the population in China predicted to exceed 1.4 billion by 2050, the urgency to develop new and innovative approaches to healthcare delivery, especially in resource-poor settings, has never been greater. To address this need, The China Center for mHealth Innovation (CCMHI) was launched in November 2014, hosted by The George Institute, China at Peking University and with support from Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™. Upon launching, CCmHI focused on a landscape analysis of digital health policies, laws, standards, programs and research activities in China. CCmHI also aims to improve community healthcare in China through the study of affordable, sustainable mHealth interventions that target the nation’s leading causes of death and disability.

“The George Institute is proud to partner with Qualcomm in the establishment of CCmHI as a world-class centre for mHealth innovation,” says Professor Stephen MacMahon, Principal Director of The George Institute and Honorary Professor at the Peking University Health Science Center.

“There is a pressing need for fresh approaches to community healthcare in China and globally, particularly in resource-poor areas. CCmHI will address this need by developing new mHealth strategies designed to improve care for individuals at high risk of stroke and other important causes of premature death and disability,” Professor MacMahon says.

Combined with consumer applications that provide tools for self-care, CCmHI will assist with the integration of mHealth strategies into national and provincial policies and guidelines.

Steve Mollenkopf, CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, says “Since 2006, Wireless Reach has led programs that leverage advanced wireless technologies to achieve economic and social impact in underserved areas throughout China. To date, these programs have directly or indirectly benefitted nearly 850,000 people. Our investment in CCmHI is part of our continuing commitment to improve the lives of Chinese citizens and contribute to the creation of an innovation-based economy in China.”