WHO-PENatScale · Project

Mobile Health App and Delivery Models for Diabetes and Hypertension Screening at National Scale

healthPilotedTRL 7Thin data (2/5)

Imagine millions of people walking around with diabetes or high blood pressure and not even knowing it — that's the reality in many African countries. This project built a smartphone app for community health workers so they can screen people right in their villages instead of waiting for them to show up at a hospital. The team tested four different ways to roll this out across an entire country (Eswatini/Swaziland), figured out which approach works best and costs the least, and packaged everything into an open-source toolkit other countries can copy.

By the numbers

3,449,412

EUR EU contribution for nationwide diabetes/hypertension scale-up research

consortium partners across 6 countries

community-based healthcare delivery models rigorously compared

major smartphone app versions developed and deployed (v1.0, v2.0, v3.0)

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Hundreds of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa have diabetes or hypertension but remain undiagnosed because care is only available through hospital-based physician teams. Countries need proven, cost-effective models to screen and manage these chronic diseases at population level using community health workers rather than scarce doctors.

The solution

What was built

A smartphone app for community health workers (developed through prototype, v1.0, v2.0, and v3.0 with systematic user feedback), four rigorously compared community-based healthcare delivery models for diabetes and hypertension management, and an open-source toolkit for other countries to replicate the national scale-up.

Audience

Who needs this

mHealth companies building clinical decision support apps for community health workersHealth ministries and NGOs planning NCD screening programs in low-resource countriesGlobal health consulting firms advising on primary care system strengtheningPharma and diagnostics companies seeking distribution channels for diabetes/hypertension products in AfricaInternational development organizations funding chronic disease programs

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Digital Health / mHealth

SME

Target: mHealth platform companies building apps for community health workers in low-resource settings

If you are a digital health company building tools for frontline healthcare workers — this project developed a smartphone app tested through three major versions (prototype, v1.0, v2.0, v3.0) for community health workers managing diabetes and hypertension screening. The app was deployed nationwide in Eswatini with a EUR 3,449,412 research investment behind it, and the open-source toolkit could accelerate your product development for similar markets across sub-Saharan Africa.

Global Health Consulting

mid-size

Target: Health system consulting firms advising governments on NCD program scale-up

If you are a consulting firm advising African health ministries on scaling chronic disease programs — this project ran a nation-wide adaptive randomised study comparing four community-based healthcare delivery models for diabetes and hypertension. The results include cost-effectiveness data and implementation lessons from a 9-partner, 6-country consortium, giving you evidence-backed recommendations instead of guesswork.

Pharmaceutical / Diagnostics

enterprise

Target: Pharma or diagnostics companies with diabetes and hypertension product portfolios targeting emerging markets

If you are a pharma or diagnostics company trying to reach undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension patients in sub-Saharan Africa — this project proved that community-based screening models can find these patients at population level. The delivery blueprint and open-source toolkit tested across an entire country could become the distribution channel your products need to reach patients who currently never visit a hospital.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this technology?

The project explicitly mentions an open-source toolkit for WHO-PEN scale-up, which suggests the app and implementation materials are freely available. However, customization, localization, and deployment support would carry costs that are not specified in the project data.

Has this been tested at industrial or national scale?

Yes — this is one of the rare projects that actually tested at national scale. The study was conducted nation-wide across Eswatini (Swaziland), comparing four community-based delivery models. The smartphone app went through three full iterations (v1.0 through v3.0) with systematic feedback collection.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

The project describes an open-source toolkit for WHO-PEN scale-up intended for dissemination to policy makers across sub-Saharan Africa. Based on available project data, the smartphone app and implementation materials appear designed for open access rather than proprietary licensing.

Is this compliant with health data regulations?

The project was funded under Horizon 2020 and coordinated by Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, a major German university hospital, suggesting adherence to European research ethics standards. Based on available project data, the app was described as culturally appropriate and gender-sensitive, but specific data protection certifications are not detailed.

How long would deployment take in a new country?

The project ran from 2019 to 2023, but this included research design, multiple app iterations, and the full randomised trial. Based on available project data, the open-source toolkit was specifically designed to help other countries replicate the scale-up, which should significantly shorten deployment timelines compared to starting from scratch.

Can this integrate with existing health information systems?

The smartphone app was designed for community health workers operating in primary care settings. Based on available project data, the app went through three major versions with feedback-driven development, but specific technical integration capabilities with existing health information systems are not detailed in the deliverable descriptions.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium of 9 partners across 6 countries (Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Eswatini, United States) is heavily research-oriented with zero industrial partners — 3 universities, 3 research organizations, and 3 other organizations. This is typical for global health research but means there is no built-in commercial pathway. The coordinator, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, is a top-tier German university hospital with strong credibility in clinical research. The international spread including Eswatini (the implementation country) and major research nations ensures both scientific rigor and local relevance. For a business looking to adopt the outputs, there is no existing commercial partner to negotiate with — engagement would go through the academic consortium.

UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM HEIDELBERGCoordinator · DE
FOLKEHELSEINSTITUTTETparticipant · NO
STICHTING AMSTERDAM INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTparticipant · NL
GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAT GOTTINGEN STIFTUNG OFFENTLICHEN RECHTSparticipant · DE
SCHWEIZERISCHES TROPEN UND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTparticipant · CH

How to reach the team

Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Germany — reach out to the global health or NCD research department

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM HEIDELBERG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the WHO-PEN@Scale team for mHealth deployment or NCD program consulting? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you assess how their open-source toolkit fits your market.

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