Healthcare ICTs for the Unhealthy Poor

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This study assesses the role of ICTs in the rural healthcare in a resource-poor setting. Depicting the contextual realities of Bangladesh as a case example, this qualitative research exploits a livelihood approach and aims to contribute to the development informatics community literature. The key findings reveal that ICTs can play a very marginal role in access to health information due to the vulnerability and limited information resources of the poor. It also informs that most health related ICT initiatives are supply-driven and led by 'technological determinism' which widens the gaps in the digital divide. The study suggests more emphasis on 'information' than 'technology'. It argues that soft issues gathered from the livelihoods of the poor may create an 'information systems plus' atmosphere where 'plus' will enable poor-focused healthcare reforms, business process reengineering and human resource development. The research concludes that for implementing e-health as digital strategy for non-digital people in Bangladesh, an integrated, visionary and demand-driven ICT approach is more crucial than plucking any low-ranging fruits.