Oxford Institute of Biomedical engineering is exploring possibilities of introducing its newly developed mobile-phone based tele-health solutions (mHealth)especially for the management of chronic diseases for rural Indian population, Professor Lionel Tarassenko said today.

The visiting professor Tarassenko said at IIT Mumbai that the mPhone has been validated for early detection and early warning and validated in more than 20 clinical trials.

"Seven years ago, we collaborated with the doctors and consultants for its validation and now the technology has been transferred to companies in UK and USA," he said.

The technology saves 7000 to 8000 Pounds per patient as the hospitalisation in UK is around 1000 Pounds per day, Tarassenko said.

"I am exploring possibilities of transferring the technology to an Indian company as the rural India requires addition of inputs in local languages," he said.

The mPhone, he said, can allow patients not only to transmit self-monitoring data and diaries to a remote server but also to receive real-time feedback, which increases compliance with treatment regimes.

"Validated by more than 20 clinical trials, mPhone has demonstrated improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs, by helping to keep patients out of hospital, especially in the case of asthma, diabetes type I and type II and hypertension (blood pressure)," Tarassenko said. .

The telehealth solution is based on the twin elements of patient self-monitoring with immediate feedback, and targeted support from a healthcare professionals with full access to the patient data on a secure web page, he said.

"Their mobile phone can allow patients not only to transmit self-monitoring data and diaries to a remote server but also to receive real-time feedback, which increases compliance with treatment regimes," the developer of the mPhone said.

As part of the Indo-UK dialogue, he said he will discuss with the newly formed departments of Biosciences and Bioengineering at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and IIT-Mumbai on further improvements of mHealth for Indian requirements.

Tarassenko said, this innovation is globally relevant as the healthcare cost has gone up enormously and it costs 1000 pounds per day for hospitalisation.

It is also relevant at a time when the World Heath Organisation has recently predicted that chronic diseases will be the leading cause of disability by 2020.

"With the growth of type 2 diabetes world-wide, for example, the number of people with diabetes is predicted to rise to 366 million by 2030. 298 million of these will be from developing countries," he said.

Improved self-management, coupled with regular education and support, is seen as the best means of slowing the inexorable rise of healthcare spending on chronic diseases.

"The challenge is to create sustainable, large-scale programmes capable of delivering both, which mhealth solutions can provide," he said.

Tarassenko was here on behalf of the Research Councils UK Office in India, UK Science and Innovation Network and the Indian Institute of Science.