Policy Brief: Digitalization of IMCI Services in Bangladesh – Implementation Research at Barishal District (2025)

Despite near-universal IMCI coverage in Bangladesh, childhood illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality. To enhance service quality and accountability, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), with Save the Children, digitalized the IMCI protocol and integrated it into DHIS2 and OpenSRP systems. Mixed-method implementation research was conducted in all upazilas of Barishal District and one in Jhalakathi in 2025. The IMCI app was found to be highly acceptable, user-friendly, and effective in improving diagnostic accuracy and adherence to clinical protocols. Prior digital experience strongly influenced adoption. Barriers included connectivity issues, device constraints, and dual reporting burdens. Cost-effectiveness modeling showed that national scale-up could avert approximately 33,000 DALYs annually, with each taka invested yielding around 26 taka in societal savings. The IMCI Digital App is a feasible, cost-effective, and scalable innovation that strengthens quality child health care delivery and supports Bangladesh’s transition toward Smart Health and universal health coverage.