The global distribution of pathology and the global distribution of medical expertise are not very well alligned. MedicineAfrica has been designed as an online architecture to bring healthcare professionals around the world together in a global expert network in order that healthcare professionals and patients everywhere could have a way to access the same expertise. As such the social network ('online healthcare workforce record'), the tutorial space ('the ward') and the educational case based record ('the patient') were developed. 

We have developed global health delivery projects where the health workforce discuss in real-time the diagnosis and management plan for patients, collaborate on research, mentor, support professional development, quality improvement projects or work on service design and delivery. We have demonstrated the capacity to effectively engage an entire, geographically separated healthcare community in this ‘online health care facility’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVF3-F0cx1U) . This has been enabled by the formula of an intense focus on both elements of the technological user experience and an understanding of the global health environment in healthcare, policy, development and technology terms.

Remote Clinical Supervision and Tutoring

• Since December 2008, weekly, cased based teaching and supervision in Medicine, Surgery, Psychiatry, Paediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynaecology to all graduating doctors and all final year medical students in Somaliland

Remote Clinical Mentoring

• The provision of a senior psychiatric mentor to every graduating doctor in Somaliland where there are currently no psychiatrists in the public sector

Peer to Peer Partnerships

• A peer - peer learning scheme whereby healthcare students can support each other from across the globe
  

MedicineAfrica has conducted baseline evaluations or started small programmes in Ghana, Tanzania, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Zambia, Sierra Leone, is developing a programme in Rwanda, has explored projects in South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Sri Lanka, and has personnel working with health sector projects in India, UAE, South Sudan, Nigeria, Burma and East Timor.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition/global-health-its-not-ju...