Abstract:
Aims: To identify virtual healthcare services and digital health technologies deployed in South Africa during
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the challenges associated with their use.
Methods: To determine the status of digital health utilization during COVID-19 in South Africa, the preferred
reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses model was used to perform a systematic and in-depth
critical analysis of previously published studies in well-known and trusted online electronic databases using
specific search keywords words that are relevant to this study. We selected published peer-reviewed articles
available from the onset of COVID-19 to July 2021.
Results: Total of 24 articles were included into this study. This study revealed that South Africa adopted digital
technologies such as SMS-based solutions, mobile health applications, telemedicine and telehealth, WhatsApp-
based systems, artificial intelligence and chatbots and robotics to provide healthcare services during COVID-19
pandemic. These innovative technologies have been used for various purposes including screening infectious
and non-infectious diseases, disease surveillance and monitoring, medication and treatment compliance, creating
awareness and communication. The study also revealed that teleconsultation and e-prescription, telelaboratory
and telepharmacy, teleeducation and teletraining, teledermatology, teleradiology, telecardiology, teleophthal-
mology, teleneurology, telerehabilitation, teleoncology and telepsychiatry are among virtual healthcare services
delivered through digital health technologies during COVID-19 in South Africa. However, these smart digital
health technologies face several impediments such as infrastructural and technological barriers, organization
and financial barriers, policy and regulatory barriers as well as cultural barriers.
Conclusion: Although COVID-19 has invigorated the use of digital health technologies, there are still some short-
comings. The outbreak of pandemics like COVID-19 in the future is not inevitable. Therefore, we recommend
increasing community networks in rural areas to bridge the digital divide and the modification of mHealth pol-
icy to advocate for the effective use of innovative technologies in healthcare and the development of sustainable
strategies for resources mobilization through private-public partnerships as well as joining available international
initiatives advocating for smart digital health
