Mobile Medical Units—Can They Improve the Quality of Health Services in Developing Countries?

Abstract

Purpose: Mobile Medical Units, developed under health strategies of many developing countries, are now emerging as a newer approach on mass scale for improving access to health care services in underserved rural areas. Therefore, it is important to study the role of Mobile Medical Units in improving the quality of health services in developing countries. Methodology: An extensive literature search was performed with databases such as MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Biomed Central, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Worldcat library, using a filter for last 25 years. Google was used to further refine the search. Studies of developed world, emergency role of Mobile Medical Units and unpublished items were excluded from this review. Findings: The literature revealed that Mobile Medical Units is still a nascent strategy to deliver health care. The available data regarding effect of Mobile Medical Units on quality of health care are very inconsistent and scanty. Better strategies, not only during the implementation period but also both pre- and post-launch are required for improving effectiveness and sustainability of Mobile Medical Units. Practical implications: This review summarizes the body of evidence which can assist the scientists and policymakers while evaluating the effectiveness of mobile medical units in health care delivery. Research implications: The present study gives a direction for future research mainly in three areas: assessing the stakeholder satisfaction, studying the constraints and critical success factors while implementing the services of Mobile Medical Units. Value: Since it is the first review of its kind, it will not only fill the gap in published literature but also provide a direction to the researchers for taking up in-depth studies in future which could improve the quality of health services in developing countries.