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Component overview

Android FHIR SDK

Native Android Kotlin libraries for building offline-capable, mobile-first healthcare applications using FHIR R4 and WHO SMART Guidelines.

What it is​

The Android FHIR SDK is a set of Kotlin libraries for building offline-capable, mobile-first healthcare applications on Android using the HL7 FHIR standard.

The SDK was developed in close collaboration with the World Health Organization to support WHO SMART Guidelines, which are based on the FHIR Clinical Guidelines Implementation Guide.

Using the SDK, developers can build and deploy FHIR-native Android health applications for clinical care delivery, community health programs, and point-of-care decision support.

Architecture diagram of Android FHIR SDK showing modular libraries for Structured Data Capture, FHIR Engine, Workflow, and Knowledge Manager.

Core advantages​

  • Standards-based FHIR R4 data model to build native Android health solutions using HAPI FHIR Structures, promoting interoperability and future-proofing application data.
  • Offline-first operation and sync via encrypted local database storage paired with sync APIs to manage intermittent internet connectivity seamlessly.
  • Dynamic form rendering with SDC turning FHIR Questionnaires into accessible UI forms at runtime with built-in validation, skip logic, and FHIRPath expressions.
  • On-device clinical reasoning evaluating Clinical Quality Language (CQL) and FHIRPath on-device for clinical decision support and quality measure computation.
  • WHO SMART Guidelines support running standardized clinical guidelines and care plans directly on mobile devices without constant server connectivity.

SDK components and libraries​

The Android FHIR SDK is organized into four modular libraries with clean separation of concerns.

1. Structured Data Capture (SDC) Library​

The Structured Data Capture library enables applications to render and process standard FHIR Questionnaire and QuestionnaireResponse resources.

  • Generates form fields and input controls at runtime using Material Design widgets.
  • Supports advanced form behaviors including field-level validation, pagination, localization, and skip logic.
  • Interprets dynamic form logic and calculated values using FHIRPath expressions.
  • Supports automated form population from existing patient resources and structured data extraction into new FHIR resources upon submission.

2. FHIR Engine Library​

The FHIR Engine library manages on-device persistence, querying, and synchronization.

  • Stores FHIR resources in an encrypted local database on the Android device.
  • Provides fluent Kotlin Domain Specific Language (DSL) search APIs for complex querying and patient list generation.
  • Handles bidirectional synchronization between Android devices and standard FHIR servers (including HAPI FHIR and cloud FHIR repositories).

3. Workflow Library​

The Workflow library executes clinical logic and manages personalized care delivery.

  • Point-of-care clinical decision support for generating personalized FHIR CarePlan resources.
  • Evaluates Clinical Quality Language (CQL) logic locally to calculate clinical metrics and protocol compliance.
  • Implements WHO SMART Guidelines and FHIR Clinical Guidelines directly on mobile clients.

4. Knowledge Manager Library​

The Knowledge Manager library deploys and indexes FHIR definitional resources (such as Questionnaire, ValueSet, Library, and PlanDefinition resources) packaged within Implementation Guides, making them available to the SDC and Workflow engines with optimal runtime performance.

Next steps​