Africa’s Medtech Revolution
From Diagnostics and AI to Chronic Disease Management and Innovations in Medical Imaging
In my previous article on the “African Medtech Revolution” I shared how Telehealth Startups are leading the way by harnessing digital technologies to extend healthcare’s reach. In this article I share how startups from Diagnostics and AI to Chronic Disease Management and Innovations in Medical Imaging are revolutionising the way healthcare is delivered across the continent.
Diagnostics and AI: Pioneering Precision Medicine in Africa
Across Africa, a new wave of innovation is transforming the landscape of healthcare diagnostics. Startups specialising in diagnostics and artificial intelligence (AI) are at the forefront of this transformation, deploying cutting-edge technologies to revolutionise the early detection and management of diseases. By harnessing AI, these companies are enhancing diagnostic accuracy, improving efficiency, and making critical health services both affordable and accessible to populations across the continent. This section highlights three trailblazing diagnostic startups from different African countries, each contributing uniquely to the continent’s healthcare revolution.
mPharma — Ghana
Ghana’s mPharma is transforming the way diagnostics are delivered across several African countries. By managing prescription drug inventory for pharmacies and their suppliers, mPharma also ventures into diagnostic services through its subsidiary, QwikLab. They bring affordable and accessible laboratory services closer to patients, especially in underserved areas, reducing the time and cost associated with disease diagnosis. Leveraging AI to analyse laboratory results, mPharma ensures faster, more accurate diagnostics, facilitating timely treatment. Their innovative approach not only streamlines the supply chain of medications but significantly improves access to essential diagnostic tests, embodying the transformative potential of AI in healthcare.
Zipline — Rwanda
In Rwanda, Zipline has taken an innovative approach to medical logistics, using drones to deliver blood and plasma to remote healthcare facilities. While primarily a logistics company, Zipline’s technology indirectly revolutionises diagnostics by ensuring that blood samples and other diagnostic materials can be transported quickly and efficiently across difficult terrains, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment. This service is particularly transformative in rural areas, where access to diagnostic labs and timely medical supplies can mean the difference between life and death. Zipline’s use of AI to optimise delivery routes and manage inventory further enhances the efficiency of diagnostic processes, showcasing the potential of technology to overcome Africa’s healthcare infrastructure challenges.
Ilara Health — Kenya
Ilara Health brings affordable and accessible diagnostic tools to primary care doctors in peri-urban and rural clinics across Kenya. By integrating innovative, low-cost diagnostic devices with patient health records and an AI-powered platform, Ilara Health enables these clinics to offer a wide range of diagnostics that were previously unavailable in these settings. Their model not only bridges the diagnostic gap in underserved areas but also leverages AI to assist in the interpretation of results, ensuring more accurate diagnoses. This approach has the potential to significantly impact patient outcomes by enabling early detection and management of diseases, illustrating the power of combining technology and healthcare to meet Africa’s unique challenges.
These startups exemplify the dynamic growth in Africa’s diagnostics and AI sub-sector, showcasing how innovative approaches and technologies can address some of the continent’s most pressing healthcare challenges. By making diagnostics more accessible, affordable, and efficient, they pave the way for early detection and personalised medicine, potentially saving millions of lives. The success of these companies highlights the critical role of technology and innovation in transforming healthcare and underscores the need for continued investment and support to realise the full potential of diagnostics and AI in improving health outcomes across Africa.
Chronic Disease Management: A New Frontier for African Startups
In the battle against chronic diseases in Africa, innovative startups are leading the charge by leveraging technology to empower patients with the tools they need for effective disease management. These platforms offer a range of services, from patient education and medication tracking to remote monitoring, thus revolutionising the management of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases outside conventional healthcare settings. Here, we explore four groundbreaking startups from different African countries, each making significant strides in chronic disease management.
Helium Health — Nigeria
Helium Health, based in Nigeria, has quickly become one of West Africa’s leading healthcare technology providers. Their comprehensive Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system not only streamlines hospital operations but also includes features specifically designed for chronic disease management. By providing patients with access to their medical records, appointment scheduling, and medication tracking through a user-friendly app, Helium Health enables individuals to actively participate in their healthcare journey. Additionally, the platform facilitates remote monitoring by healthcare providers, ensuring patients receive continuous care, even from a distance.
mDoc Healthcare — Nigeria
mDoc is a digital platform that leverages mobile and web-based communication to provide comprehensive support for people living with chronic diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. By integrating evidence-based guidelines and behavioral science, mDoc offers personalized self-management support and access to a network of healthcare professionals. Patients can track their health metrics, access educational content, and receive nudges and coaching to adopt healthier lifestyles. mDoc’s approach demonstrates the power of digital interventions in enhancing disease management and improving the quality of life for chronic disease patients.
DabaDoc — Morocco
DabaDoc, Morocco’s pioneering health tech platform, revolutionizes access to healthcare services, including chronic disease management. While primarily known for doctor appointment booking, DabaDoc also offers telehealth services that are crucial for patients with chronic conditions. Through virtual consultations, patients can receive ongoing support from specialists, manage their conditions effectively, and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. DabaDoc’s integration of telehealth into its services highlights the evolving nature of healthcare delivery and the role of digital platforms in facilitating continuous care for chronic disease patients.
ConnectMed — Kenya
ConnectMed launched operations in Kenya with the mission to democratize access to quality healthcare services, including the management of chronic diseases. Although ConnectMed has since ceased operations, its model of offering online consultations and digital health management tools set a precedent for telehealth in Kenya. The platform enabled patients with chronic conditions to consult with doctors remotely, receive prescriptions, and manage their health via digital platforms, showcasing the potential of telehealth to complement traditional healthcare, especially for chronic disease management.
These startups illustrate the dynamic and innovative approaches being adopted across Africa to tackle the challenges of chronic disease management. By leveraging technology to empower patients and facilitate remote care, these companies are not only improving individual health outcomes but also reducing the strain on traditional healthcare systems. Their work highlights the importance of continued innovation and support for health tech solutions in addressing the growing burden of chronic diseases in Africa.
Innovations in Medical Imaging: Africa’s Tech Pioneers
Across Africa, a new wave of meditech startups is making significant inroads in transforming the accessibility and affordability of medical imaging, particularly in underserved regions. By developing and deploying portable, cost-effective imaging devices, these innovators are ensuring that timely diagnosis and treatment become a reality for communities previously beyond the reach of such critical healthcare services. Here, we spotlight four startups from different African countries, each driving forward the revolution in medical imaging with their groundbreaking technologies.
Butterfly Network — Egypt (Collaborative Efforts)
While Butterfly Network is not based in Africa, its impact on the continent, particularly in Egypt, through collaborations with local healthcare providers, illustrates the potential of portable ultrasound technology. The Butterfly iQ device, a handheld, smartphone-connected ultrasound machine, has been introduced in various clinical settings across Egypt. This innovation allows for on-the-spot diagnostics in a wide range of medical situations, from rural clinics to emergency rooms, making it an invaluable tool in regions where traditional ultrasound machines are scarce or unavailable.
Peek Vision — Kenya
Peek Vision has developed a smartphone-based solution to tackle the challenge of preventable blindness. With a significant presence in Kenya, Peek’s portable eye examination kit and app enable healthcare workers to conduct comprehensive eye tests using just a smartphone. This technology can detect conditions that lead to blindness, facilitating early intervention. Peek Vision’s approach not only democratizes access to eye care but also serves as a model for how mobile technology can be harnessed to address other medical imaging needs in low-resource settings.
hearX Group — South Africa
South Africa’s hearX Group is leveraging technology to make hearing care accessible to everyone. Their innovative solution, hearScope, is a digital otoscope that attaches to a smartphone, allowing for high-quality images and videos of the eardrum to be captured and analyzed. This portable device is particularly useful in remote areas, enabling primary care providers to conduct ear examinations and make informed decisions without the need for expensive, traditional otoscopes.
Redbird Health Tech — Ghana
Redbird Health Tech, based in Ghana, has developed a platform that integrates portable diagnostic devices for chronic disease monitoring into the pharmacy retail space, offering an innovative approach to medical imaging and tests. While Redbird’s primary focus is on diagnostics for conditions like hypertension and diabetes, their model represents a broader shift towards integrating portable, affordable medical imaging and testing technologies into easily accessible community settings.
These startups exemplify the innovative spirit driving the transformation of medical imaging across Africa. By creating portable, affordable, and user-friendly imaging devices, they are overcoming traditional barriers to access and paving the way for a future where timely diagnostics are within reach for all, regardless of geographic location. As these technologies continue to evolve and expand, the potential for scaling such innovations to address a wider array of medical conditions presents a promising horizon for healthcare across the continent.
More to come…
In my next article in this series on Medtech in Africa, I talk about “Navigating Challenges: The Resilience of African Meditech Startups”…
…thanks for reading.
