• Docotela offers remote video consultations, improving healthcare access and affordability.
• The platform provides both pay-per-use and subscription models, including mental health support.
• Docotela targets routine medical care but excludes emergencies requiring immediate intervention.

Dineo Lioma, a South African healthtech entrepreneur, founded and leads Docotela, an online healthcare platform established in 2023. The platform allows patients to consult doctors remotely via secure video calls, eliminating the need for physical visits.

Docotela’s goal is to simplify, speed up, and reduce the cost of medical consultations, particularly for individuals with limited access to physicians or health insurance.

Patients book consultations online, select a time slot, and receive a secure link to connect with a doctor. Following the consultation, the platform delivers necessary documents—including prescriptions, medical certificates, or medication vouchers—via email or messaging.

Docotela offers two service models: single consultations billed per visit, and monthly subscriptions providing unlimited consultations. Subscription plans include additional services, such as referrals to specialists, medical tests, health guidance, and mental health support via remote therapy sessions.

The platform addresses common medical needs, including minor illnesses, chronic disease follow-up, sexual health advice, and psychological support. However, Docotela does not handle urgent or severe medical situations requiring immediate intervention.

Before Docotela, Lioma co-founded Incitech in 2014, focusing on medical diagnostics, and CapeBio in 2018, a supplier of reagents, enzymes, and molecular biology kits. She also leads Deep Medical Therapeutics, another healthtech company.

Lioma holds a master’s degree in materials engineering from the University of Witwatersrand. She began her career in 2009 as a trainee engineer at Andalusite Resources, then moved to research and technology roles at Element Six and Archipelago Technology Group, including strategy and licensing consultancy.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum