The Ptolemy project: a scalable model for delivering health information in Africa

Abstract
The role of electronic health information in building local capacity to find, publish, and implement solutions has been emphasised recently in Science,1 Nature,2 the Lancet,3 4 and the BMJ.5 The Global Forum for Health Research gives priority to interventions designed to build research capacity in developing countries and correct the disparity in health research.6 The Coalition for Global Health Research (Canada) has recently reported how a major effort now can make a substantial difference.7 Access to reliable health information has been described as “the single most cost-effective and achievable strategy for sustainable improvement in health care.”8 We are interested in helping to build research, teaching, and clinical capacity for neglected yet substantial problems such as injury, which kills 5.1 million people annually.911