Automated Phone Calls Help Cancer Patients in Uganda ^{CEFR B2}

In Uganda, cancer patients often travel hundreds of kilometres to receive treatment at specialised clinics. Previously, medical teams had no practical method to monitor these patients after discharge. Consequently, serious side effects, including severe nausea and mouth wounds, often went unnoticed between appointments.

To address this challenge, the Uganda Cancer Institute developed an automated voice call system using Interactive Voice Response technology. Clinic nurses record each patient’s telephone number, language, and preferred time for calls. The automated system then contacts patients every few days, presenting recorded questions about their symptoms. Patients respond by selecting one of four numbered options, and the system transmits their answers directly to doctors.

Because the hospital initiates the calls, the service is entirely free. Crucially, patients do not need a smartphone, an internet connection, or literacy skills to participate. In a pilot study supported by 50,000 US dollars from the International Cancer Foundation in Switzerland, the tool monitored approximately 100 blood cancer patients. It generated roughly 700 calls weekly, allowing doctors to recall 18 patients who experienced serious complications.

Ugandan health officials plan to adopt the system nationally to reduce staffing costs while managing rising cancer cases. Future expansion plans include adding solar power and adapting the questions for other diseases, such as breast cancer.