The role of e/mHealth in tuberculosis and tobacco control

Overview

Tuberculosis (TB) and tobacco smoking represent two major, global public health concerns. About 9 million new cases of TB emerge each year and 1.5 million die from the disease (including persons with HIV). Tobacco is the largest preventable cause of death in the world: almost 6 million people are estimated to die from smoking every year. Smoking substantially increases the risk of TB and death from the disease; more than 20% of the global TB incidence is estimated to be linked to tobacco smoking. The associations between TB and tobacco lay down the scientific foundations for joint action. The application of information and communication technology (ICT) to health care - eHealth/mHealth or digital health - could provide new solutions and avenues for synergy in public health action against both conditions. State-of-the-art ICT is progressively reaching the most remote corners of the world. Internet coverage and portable telephony have seen a huge increase in recent years, opening up new perspectives in the care of patients and the control of multiple diseases and risks to health. Be He@lthy Be Mobile, a joint initiative in digital health between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), is one example.