mobile Framework for Healthcare Adoption of Short-Message Technologies (mFHAST) (PSS-2404)

Rural, remote, and underserved communities often lack reliable information and communication technologies (ICT). As mobile adoption continues to grow, short?message services (SMS) remain a practical and scalable option for health communication. These messages support public health alerts, disease?management data collection, and the coordination of services and supplies.

Modern healthcare initiatives increasingly supplement SMS with contemporary social media platforms—such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and community?based messaging apps—to broaden reach and improve real?time communication. These channels enable rapid dissemination of public health information, patient engagement, and coordinated emergency response efforts.

Despite these advances, many programs still rely on custom message formats, resulting in inconsistent and ad?hoc communication standards. Establishing unified guidelines across SMS and social media–based messaging can improve accuracy, interoperability, and the overall effectiveness of digital health communication in low?resource settings.