The digitalisation of medicine is a global trend with potential to transform healthcare. In urban Liberia, which has a strained health system, integrating digital tools presents distinct opportunities and challenges. A synthesis of the current landscape is needed to inform progress. This scoping review maps the existing literature on the digitalisation of medicine in urban Liberia. It aims to identify the types of digital health technologies implemented, describe their applications, and synthesise reported benefits and barriers to adoption and sustainability. A systematic scoping review was conducted. Multiple academic databases and grey literature sources were searched. Publications were screened against predefined inclusion criteria, with data extracted and analysed thematically. The review identified a growing but fragmented body of work. Mobile health (mHealth) applications for maternal health messaging and electronic medical records for HIV/AIDS management were most documented. A critical challenge was infrastructural limitation, with unreliable electricity and internet connectivity frequently cited as a major barrier. Other challenges included variable digital literacy and data security concerns. Digitalisation in urban Liberian medicine is progressing, largely within disease-specific programmes. While benefits for coordination and patient engagement are noted, advancement is constrained by systemic and infrastructural issues. The transition from pilot projects to integrated, sustainable systems remains a significant hurdle. Future initiatives should prioritise investment in robust digital infrastructure, including electricity and internet connectivity. Programmes require co-design with end-users and healthcare workers, supported by comprehensive training. Policymakers should develop a coherent national digital health strategy with clear governance and data protection frameworks. Digital health, mHealth, Liberia, urban health, scoping review, healthcare delivery, sub-Saharan Africa. This review consolidates evidence on the digitalisation of urban Liberian medicine, clarifying the current scope of implementation and predominant challenges. It provides a foundation for policymakers and practitioners to develop more effective and sustainable digital health interventions.
Kofa et al. (Thu,) studied this question.