Mobile application to assist cancer patients access healthcare and funding in Kenya

Abstract

Cancer has posed to be a killer disease over time. Most patients die of cancer due to lack of access to early screening and effective treatment and lack of medical funds. Cancer treatment is deemed expensive thus most patients would need a health insurance fund or donor to offset the hospital bill. Cancer patients also need information on where they can access quality health service. There are several stakeholders who have joined forces to overcome the cancer burden. The government of Kenya has spearheaded the initiative by introduction of NHIF cover, covering cancer treatment. Cancer patients can be treated at NHIF approved hospitals using the capped cover amount. There are also Non-governmental organizations and cancer fund drives that have been organized to assist in the cancer burden in Kenya. Data was collected using questionnaires, the data collected was used to find out the challenges faced when accessing health care and funding. Data was analyzed using Google analytics tools and results obtained were used to guide the researcher in the design of the mobile and web application. Agile software methodology was used to develop the application. A mobile and web application was developed to assist cancer patients to access health care and funding. Users of the system are required to register their details that consist of their bio data as well as their NHIF number. The details of the user are sent to the donor to assist in paying the monthly contribution as well as the deficit amount to cover the full cancer treatment. Users are also referred to an oncologist and Hospital facility upon appointment request.