diff --git a/android/engine/src/main/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/FhirDataTypesUtil.kt b/android/engine/src/main/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/FhirDataTypesUtil.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a0a8e29be8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/engine/src/main/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/FhirDataTypesUtil.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021-2024 Ona Systems, Inc
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.util
+
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.formats.JsonParser
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.BooleanType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateTimeType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DecimalType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Enumerations.DataType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.IntegerType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.StringType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.TimeType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Type
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.UriType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.utils.TypesUtilities
+import timber.log.Timber
+
+private val fhirTypesJsonParser: JsonParser = JsonParser()
+
+private fun String.castToFhirPrimitiveType(type: DataType): Type? =
+  when (type) {
+    DataType.BOOLEAN -> BooleanType(this)
+    DataType.DECIMAL -> DecimalType(this)
+    DataType.INTEGER -> IntegerType(this)
+    DataType.DATE -> DateType(this)
+    DataType.DATETIME -> DateTimeType(this)
+    DataType.TIME -> TimeType(this)
+    DataType.STRING -> StringType(this)
+    DataType.URI -> UriType(this)
+    else -> null
+  }
+
+private fun String.castToFhirDataType(type: DataType): Type? =
+  try {
+    fhirTypesJsonParser.parseType(this, type.toCode())
+  } catch (ex: Exception) {
+    Timber.e("Error casting \"$this\" to FHIR type \"${type.toCode()}\"")
+    throw ex
+  }
+
+/** Cast string value (including json string) to the FHIR {@link org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Type} */
+fun String.castToType(type: DataType): Type? {
+  return if (TypesUtilities.isPrimitive(type.toCode())) {
+    castToFhirPrimitiveType(type)
+  } else {
+    castToFhirDataType(type)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/android/engine/src/main/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtension.kt b/android/engine/src/main/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtension.kt
index cbb925e223..cd2ffafc4c 100644
--- a/android/engine/src/main/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtension.kt
+++ b/android/engine/src/main/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtension.kt
@@ -20,23 +20,13 @@ import com.google.android.fhir.datacapture.extensions.asStringValue
 import com.google.android.fhir.datacapture.extensions.logicalId
 import com.google.android.fhir.datacapture.extensions.targetStructureMap
 import java.util.Locale
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.BooleanType
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Bundle
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Coding
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateTimeType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DecimalType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Enumerations.DataType
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Expression
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.IdType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.IntegerType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Quantity
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Questionnaire
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.QuestionnaireResponse
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.StringType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.TimeType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Type
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.UriType
 import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.configuration.LinkIdType
 import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.configuration.QuestionnaireConfig
 import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.configuration.UniqueIdAssignmentConfig
@@ -45,6 +35,7 @@ import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.domain.model.ActionParameterType
 import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.domain.model.RuleConfig
 import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.domain.model.isEditable
 import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.domain.model.isReadOnly
+import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.util.castToType
 
 fun QuestionnaireResponse.QuestionnaireResponseItemComponent.asLabel() =
   if (this.linkId != null) {
@@ -301,20 +292,3 @@ suspend fun Questionnaire.prepopulateUniqueIdAssignment(
     }
   }
 }
-
-/** Cast string value (including json string) to the FHIR {@link org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Type} */
-fun String.castToType(type: DataType): Type? {
-  return when (type) {
-    DataType.BOOLEAN -> BooleanType(this)
-    DataType.DECIMAL -> DecimalType(this)
-    DataType.INTEGER -> IntegerType(this)
-    DataType.DATE -> DateType(this)
-    DataType.DATETIME -> DateTimeType(this)
-    DataType.TIME -> TimeType(this)
-    DataType.STRING -> StringType(this)
-    DataType.URI -> UriType(this)
-    DataType.CODING -> this.tryDecodeJson<Coding>()
-    DataType.QUANTITY -> this.tryDecodeJson<Quantity>()
-    else -> null // TODO cast the (several) remaining Enumeration.DataTypes
-  }
-}
diff --git a/android/engine/src/test/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/FhirDataTypesUtilKtTest.kt b/android/engine/src/test/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/FhirDataTypesUtilKtTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..20a263df2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/engine/src/test/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/FhirDataTypesUtilKtTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021-2024 Ona Systems, Inc
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *       http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.util
+
+import java.io.IOException
+import java.math.BigDecimal
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.BooleanType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Coding
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateTimeType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DecimalType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Enumerations.DataType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.IntegerType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Quantity
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Reference
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.StringType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.TimeType
+import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.UriType
+import org.junit.Assert
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.util.extension.valueToString
+
+class FhirDataTypesUtilKtTest {
+  @Test
+  fun testCastToTypeReturnsCorrectTypes() {
+    val booleanType = "true".castToType(DataType.BOOLEAN)
+    Assert.assertEquals(BooleanType().fhirType(), booleanType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("true", booleanType.valueToString())
+
+    val decimalType = "6.4".castToType(DataType.DECIMAL)
+    Assert.assertEquals(DecimalType().fhirType(), decimalType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("6.4", decimalType.valueToString())
+
+    val integerType = "4".castToType(DataType.INTEGER)
+    Assert.assertEquals(IntegerType().fhirType(), integerType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("4", integerType.valueToString())
+
+    val dateType = "2020-02-02".castToType(DataType.DATE)
+    Assert.assertEquals(DateType().fhirType(), dateType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("02-Feb-2020", dateType.valueToString())
+
+    val dateTimeType = "2020-02-02T13:00:32".castToType(DataType.DATETIME)
+    Assert.assertEquals(DateTimeType().fhirType(), dateTimeType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("02-Feb-2020", dateTimeType.valueToString())
+
+    val timeType = "T13:00:32".castToType(DataType.TIME)
+    Assert.assertEquals(TimeType().fhirType(), timeType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("T13:00:32", timeType.valueToString())
+
+    val stringType = "str".castToType(DataType.STRING)
+    Assert.assertEquals(StringType().fhirType(), stringType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("str", stringType.valueToString())
+
+    val uriType = "https://str.org".castToType(DataType.URI)
+    Assert.assertEquals(UriType().fhirType(), uriType?.fhirType())
+    Assert.assertEquals("https://str.org", uriType.valueToString())
+
+    val codingType = "{ \"code\": \"alright\" }".castToType(DataType.CODING)
+    Assert.assertTrue(codingType is Coding)
+    codingType as Coding
+    Assert.assertEquals("alright", codingType.code)
+
+    Assert.assertThrows(IOException::class.java) {
+      val codingType = "invalid".castToType(DataType.CODING)
+      Assert.assertEquals(null, codingType)
+    }
+
+    val quantityType = " { \"value\": 42 }".castToType(DataType.QUANTITY)
+    Assert.assertTrue(quantityType is Quantity)
+    quantityType as Quantity
+    Assert.assertEquals(BigDecimal(42), quantityType.value)
+
+    Assert.assertThrows(IOException::class.java) {
+      val quantityType = "invalid".castToType(DataType.QUANTITY)
+      Assert.assertEquals(null, quantityType)
+    }
+
+    val referenceType = "{ \"reference\": \"Patient/0\"}".castToType(DataType.REFERENCE)
+    Assert.assertTrue(referenceType is Reference)
+    referenceType as Reference
+    Assert.assertEquals("Patient/0", referenceType.reference)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/android/engine/src/test/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtensionTest.kt b/android/engine/src/test/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtensionTest.kt
index 358852ec25..5e55a48403 100644
--- a/android/engine/src/test/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtensionTest.kt
+++ b/android/engine/src/test/java/org/smartregister/fhircore/engine/util/extension/QuestionnaireExtensionTest.kt
@@ -18,12 +18,8 @@ package org.smartregister.fhircore.engine.util.extension
 
 import java.util.UUID
 import kotlinx.coroutines.test.runTest
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.BooleanType
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Bundle
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Coding
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateTimeType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DateType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.DecimalType
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Enumerations
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Enumerations.DataType
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Expression
@@ -33,9 +29,7 @@ import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Questionnaire
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.QuestionnaireResponse
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.ResourceType
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.StringType
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.TimeType
 import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.Type
-import org.hl7.fhir.r4.model.UriType
 import org.junit.Assert
 import org.junit.Before
 import org.junit.Test
@@ -408,50 +402,6 @@ class QuestionnaireExtensionTest : RobolectricTest() {
     Assert.assertTrue(questionnaireItemComponent.hasExtension(EXTENSION_INITIAL_EXPRESSION_URL))
   }
 
-  @Test
-  fun testCastToTypeReturnsCorrectTypes() {
-    val booleanType = "true".castToType(DataType.BOOLEAN)
-    Assert.assertEquals(BooleanType().fhirType(), booleanType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("true", booleanType.valueToString())
-
-    val decimalType = "6.4".castToType(DataType.DECIMAL)
-    Assert.assertEquals(DecimalType().fhirType(), decimalType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("6.4", decimalType.valueToString())
-
-    val integerType = "4".castToType(DataType.INTEGER)
-    Assert.assertEquals(IntegerType().fhirType(), integerType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("4", integerType.valueToString())
-
-    val dateType = "2020-02-02".castToType(DataType.DATE)
-    Assert.assertEquals(DateType().fhirType(), dateType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("02-Feb-2020", dateType.valueToString())
-
-    val dateTimeType = "2020-02-02T13:00:32".castToType(DataType.DATETIME)
-    Assert.assertEquals(DateTimeType().fhirType(), dateTimeType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("02-Feb-2020", dateTimeType.valueToString())
-
-    val timeType = "T13:00:32".castToType(DataType.TIME)
-    Assert.assertEquals(TimeType().fhirType(), timeType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("T13:00:32", timeType.valueToString())
-
-    val stringType = "str".castToType(DataType.STRING)
-    Assert.assertEquals(StringType().fhirType(), stringType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("str", stringType.valueToString())
-
-    val uriType = "https://str.org".castToType(DataType.URI)
-    Assert.assertEquals(UriType().fhirType(), uriType?.fhirType())
-    Assert.assertEquals("https://str.org", uriType.valueToString())
-
-    // test invalid JSON
-    val codingType = "invalid".castToType(DataType.CODING)
-    Assert.assertEquals(null, codingType)
-
-    val quantityType = "invalid".castToType(DataType.QUANTITY)
-    Assert.assertEquals(null, quantityType)
-
-    // TODO: test valid JSON
-  }
-
   @Test
   fun testPrepopulateQuestionnaireWithComputedValues() = runTest {
     val questionnaireConfig =