Big data analytics in health care: Revolutionizing and unlocking potential for public healthcare in resource constrained countries.

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3833_GHC16.43

Authors: Darlington S Mapiye, Geoffrey H Siwo, Solomon Assefa

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of big data analytics’ potential for improving public healthcare in resourceconstrained countries. Big data analytics in healthcare is developing into a promising field, which provides insights from voluminous complex data sets. Over the years, there has been a rapid accumulation of large and complex public healthcare data but this data is difficult to process using common analytic models and traditional processing applications. Despite this explosion, there has been little progress in developing new analytic methods, which could enhance the quality, magnitude, storage and analysis of this data. In resource-constrained countries, application of big data analytics has the potential to move public healthcare delivery towards evidence-based practice. We review the potential of using big data to improve public healthcare delivery in resource-constrained countries. However, poor infrastructure and governance regulations prevent the proper implementation and safe use of public healthcare data. Therefore, appropriate frameworks must be developed and implemented to ensure that public health-care delivery is tailored towards needs of targeted populations.

Keywords: Healthcare;Big data;Resource constrained; Analytics