Creating more efficiency in malaria program funds: a business case for Connected Diagnostics in Kenya

Creating more efficiency in malaria program funds: a business case for Connected Diagnostics in Kenya | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Creating more efficiency in malaria program funds: a business case for Connected Diagnostics in Kenya Charlotte Dieteren, Emmanuel Millimo, Angela Siteyi, Shannen van Duijn, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3920604/v2 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract Objective There is a need to reduce inefficient service delivery caused by parallel financing streams. In this paper we aim to assess the opportunities offered by digitalized diagnostics to target and monitor health funds to those in need objectively and transparently. Methods In this study we used the malaria case to demonstrate the ConnDx process codeveloped with the local Department of Health of Kisumu, Kenya. We used quantitative data to demonstrate how an ConnDx approach can contribute to manage malaria health funds with markedly increased transparency. We also calculate the costs for ConnDx and standard care to assess potential cost reductions. Results ConnDx was rolled out in five private healthcare facilities and detected 2,199 malaria cases among 11,689 patients with fever. ConnDx allowed for the identification of malaria hotspots, semi-real-time assessment of patient health seeking behavior across facilities, and insights in doctor’s prescription behavior, vis a vis National Guidelines. Based on these insights, we demonstrate that a 25% reduction in costs can be realized, while simultaneously better-quality indicators can be monitored and put into quality improvement action. Conclusion The concept of ConnDx can in principle be used for any medical condition that can be diagnosed in a digital manner and linked to mobile payment systems. This can help decision makers in LMICs to channel disease-specific funds to the right patients for the right disease at the right time, which can potentially accelerate the way to universal health coverage. ConnDx health financing vertical funds efficiency digitalization Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3920604","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":296731831,"identity":"23a4ed2f-3aa2-4bbc-b8a8-837e0386edfd","order_by":0,"name":"Charlotte 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\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"ConnDx, health financing, vertical funds, efficiency, digitalization","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3920604/v2","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3920604/v2","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObjective\u003cbr\u003e\n \u003c/strong\u003eThere is a need to reduce inefficient service delivery caused by parallel financing streams. In this paper we aim to assess the opportunities offered by digitalized diagnostics to target and monitor health funds to those in need objectively and transparently.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this study we used the malaria case to demonstrate the \u003cem\u003eConnDx \u003c/em\u003eprocess codeveloped with the local Department of Health of Kisumu, Kenya. We used quantitative data to demonstrate how an \u003cem\u003eConnDx\u003c/em\u003e approach can contribute to manage malaria health funds with markedly increased transparency. We also calculate the costs for \u003cem\u003eConnDx\u003c/em\u003e and standard care to assess potential cost reductions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eConnDx \u003c/em\u003ewas rolled out in five private healthcare facilities and detected 2,199 malaria cases among 11,689 patients with fever. \u003cem\u003eConnDx \u003c/em\u003eallowed for the identification of malaria hotspots, semi-real-time assessment of patient health seeking behavior across facilities, and insights in doctor’s prescription behavior, vis a vis National Guidelines. Based on these insights, we demonstrate that a 25% reduction in costs can be realized, while simultaneously better-quality indicators can be monitored and put into quality improvement action.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe concept of\u003cem\u003e ConnDx\u003c/em\u003e can in principle be used for any medical condition that can be diagnosed in a digital manner and linked to mobile payment systems. 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