Smartphones, drones, to save lives in Malawi

A mobile phone equipped to measure heart rate, body temperature and breathing, with a digital medical manual for health care staff. Unmanned drones that can drop medicine and collect blood samples in remote areas. Researchers from Lund University in Sweden, Cork and Oxford are set to develop new technology that could revolutionise health care in the country.

The drones will be connected to the mobile network, meaning tracking the devices and even checking the temperature of drugs being carried is possible. Another potential benefit is understanding how diseases are spreading geographically, making it easier to identify epidemics earlier.

"We are also considering using lightweight solar panels to charge the mobiles and drones with", says Sven Carlsson, Professor of Informatics and head of the Lund University research group joining the Life Support project.

In rural Malawi, aid organisations' health care staff currently use a printed disease manual called IMCI when diagnosing patients. The format makes it difficult to use in the field.

"Mobile IMCI will make it easier for health care staff to use the manual and make a correct diagnosis. It is an aid that will save lives in the long term", concludes Sven Carlsson.