How WhatsApp is Transforming Healthcare Services and Empowering Health Workers in Low-and Middle-Income Countries

WhatsApp, a well-known and versatile mobile instant-messaging platform, has found increasing application in healthcare settings in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). From coordinating schedules and sharing clinical insights to patient follow-up care, healthcare practitioners such as doctors, nurses, midwives, and community health workers (CHWs) alike use WhatsApp to improve their services. While the informal use of WhatsApp in healthcare settings has grown exponentially, the literature is sparse on use cases, challenges, and opportunities in developing countries. Based on a comprehensive literature review that includes a variety of application scenarios from around the world, this article describes three major application areas for WhatsApp. For each application area, this article presents a brief description, several examples and mini case studies, and an in-depth analysis of opportunities and challenges. This article culminates with a discussion of common implementation challenges, best practices, and gaps in the extant ecosystem.