• Tanzanian physician and entrepreneur Ali Khatau co-founded LyfPlus in 2022 to help hospitals and clinics deliver telemedicine services.

• The platform combines remote consultations, e-prescriptions, pharmacy management, digital patient records and appointment scheduling into a single system.

• Khatau previously founded DarEquip, ElimuTanzania and the SukariCare Foundation, while building a medical career in Tanzania's healthcare sector.

Tanzanian physician and serial entrepreneur Ali Khatau serves as co-founder and chief medical officer of LyfPlus, a health technology startup that helps local healthcare providers accelerate their digital transformation. Founded in 2022, LyfPlus enables hospitals and clinics to offer remote medical consultations through a digital platform.

The platform expands healthcare access for patients living in remote areas or facing mobility constraints by eliminating the need for long and costly journeys to healthcare facilities. Through an intuitive interface, patients schedule appointments online, consult healthcare professionals through video calls and receive digital prescriptions directly after their consultations.

Beyond telemedicine, LyfPlus integrates a pharmacy management module that allows hospitals to generate secure electronic prescriptions. Patients can then order prescribed medicines and receive home deliveries. For healthcare providers, the platform centralizes medical histories within a single shared patient record. This integrated information flow improves continuity of care and strengthens operational efficiency across medical teams.

The application also addresses overcrowded waiting rooms. Its real-time scheduling system streamlines patient queues and improves the overall experience within healthcare facilities.

Strong Academic Background and Healthcare Experience

Ali Khatau began his entrepreneurial journey in 2016 when he launched DarEquip, a medical equipment supplier, and ElimuTanzania, a secondary education platform. More recently, he founded the SukariCare Foundation in 2023 to combat diabetes. He led the organization until February 2026.

Khatau supports his entrepreneurial work with a strong academic background. He earned a medical degree from Hubert Kairuki Memorial University in Tanzania in 2019. He later completed two master's degrees in the United Kingdom in 2025: a Master's in Diabetes from the University of Wales and a Master's in International Public Health from Liverpool John Moores University.

Khatau also built extensive clinical experience before launching LyfPlus. He started his medical career as an intern at Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam before joining Apollo Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam in 2021. He served as both general practitioner and administrator at Apollo Medical Centre until 2024. Between 2022 and 2023, he also chaired the hospital's management team.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum

• Mali has launched a new digital platform to centralize health information and services through the Ministry of Health and Social Development.

• The portal provides institutional information, geolocation of healthcare and administrative facilities, and access across computers, smartphones and tablets.

• The initiative supports Mali's 2024–2028 National Digital Health Strategic Plan, which aims to strengthen health data systems, interoperability and digital healthcare services.

Improving access to public information has become a key pillar of digital health strategies across Africa. Mali has strengthened that effort by launching a digital platform that centralizes information and services provided by its Ministry of Health and Social Development.

The government has introduced the new platform as part of its broader effort to digitalize the country's healthcare system and improve citizens' access to health information while facilitating access to public health services. Available at https://www.sante.gov.ml/, the ministry's official portal centralizes institutional information and offers practical digital services, including the geolocation of healthcare facilities and administrative offices.

Beyond publishing institutional news, the platform integrates a geolocation system covering administrative services as well as hospitals and pharmaceutical facilities managed by the ministry.

The government designed the portal for access on computers, smartphones and tablets. The platform aims to improve public access to official information, strengthen government transparency and increase the visibility of health sector initiatives both nationally and internationally.

The launch forms part of Mali's broader digital transformation strategy for the healthcare sector. The government adopted the 2024–2028 National Digital Health Strategic Plan in 2024 to develop a digital ecosystem capable of improving the production and sharing of health data, strengthening health information systems and expanding access to healthcare services through digital technologies.

The strategy also prioritizes interoperability among digital platforms, stronger digital infrastructure and the development of digital skills for healthcare professionals.

The initiative addresses persistent challenges in healthcare governance and service delivery. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health information systems play a critical role in achieving universal health coverage by enabling policymakers and citizens to access reliable information that supports public policy decisions and improves the quality of care.

Across many African countries, governments continue to accelerate the digitalization of health administrations to improve service accessibility, strengthen governance and enhance the monitoring of healthcare policies. Through the new portal, Mali's Ministry of Health and Social Development now has an official digital channel for communicating with citizens, healthcare professionals, technical and financial partners, and the media.

The authorities have encouraged users to visit the platform regularly to follow ministry updates and access official information.

Samira Njoya

• Kenyan physician and entrepreneur Victor Kenneth Baraza founded Tawi Health in 2021 to expand healthcare access through digital services across Africa.

• The platform combines telemedicine, appointment management and healthcare supply services while supporting low-connectivity environments through phone, SMS and voice calls.

• Baraza holds a software engineering diploma from Holberton School and a bachelor's degree in medicine from the University of Nairobi.

Kenyan physician and entrepreneur Victor Kenneth Baraza has made expanding access to healthcare across Africa his mission. Through his startup, Tawi Health, he develops digital health solutions that reduce medical isolation, particularly in remote and underserved communities.

Founded in 2021, Tawi Health operates an intuitive digital platform that enables healthcare professionals to streamline appointment management and coordinate clinical activities more efficiently.

The platform also offers a highly secure telemedicine service that allows patients to consult healthcare providers remotely. As a result, patients reduce both travel requirements and transportation costs while maintaining access to medical care.

Moreover, Tawi Health has adapted its services for areas with limited internet connectivity. Users can access medical advice through standard phone calls, SMS messaging or voice calls without relying on continuous internet access. This approach broadens digital inclusion for underserved populations.

Beyond telemedicine, Tawi Health connects users with a broad network of local and international healthcare suppliers, simplifying access to medical products. The startup also manages delivery logistics and streamlines payment processes, thereby securing the entire purchasing journey for patients and healthcare providers.

Tawi Health also serves as a collaborative workspace for medical teams. The platform integrates document sharing, instant messaging, screen sharing and meeting recording features. These tools enable healthcare professionals to collaborate in real time and improve coordination across care teams.

Victor Kenneth Baraza earned a diploma in Software Engineering from Holberton School in the United States in 2022. He also graduated from the University of Nairobi in Kenya with a bachelor's degree in Medicine in 2024.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum

• Senegalese entrepreneur Adama Kane founded JokkoSanté to improve access to medicines through a community-based exchange platform.
• The startup allows users to exchange unused medicines for points that reduce the cost of future prescriptions while limiting pharmaceutical waste.
• Kane has expanded his entrepreneurial portfolio into digital messaging services and the blue economy while holding a regulatory compliance role at Sonatel.

Senegalese telecommunications engineer Adama Kane has developed a technology-driven community pharmacy platform that aims to improve access to medicines while making pharmaceutical distribution more efficient across local communities.

Kane, a graduate of the Higher Multinational School of Telecommunications in Dakar, founded and serves as Chief Executive Officer of JokkoSanté, a startup that seeks to expand access to medicines through a digitally connected community pharmacy model.

Founded in 2014, JokkoSanté operates a solidarity-based medicine exchange system. Users deposit unused medicines in exchange for points, which they can later redeem for other treatments or use to reduce the cost of future prescriptions.

Beyond the citizen exchange model, the startup also incorporates an innovative cross-financing mechanism. Companies and partner organizations can directly finance medicine purchases for vulnerable populations. The platform tracks every contribution to ensure full transparency and allow donors to monitor the impact of their funding.

The initiative also addresses pharmaceutical waste. By improving the monitoring and redistribution of unopened medicine packages, JokkoSanté reduces material losses while promoting more responsible and sustainable consumption of healthcare products.

Alongside his work in digital health, Kane serves as Head of Regulatory Compliance Services in Sonatel's telecommunications business in Senegal. Kane has also diversified his entrepreneurial activities in recent years. In 2022, he founded USSD ACCESS, a company that provides internet-independent instant messaging services for governments and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The same year, Kane entered the blue economy by launching Ecospeche, a company that focuses on modernizing fisheries activities.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum

• Zimbabwean entrepreneur Panashe Madzudzo founded Avalon Health to connect patients, healthcare providers, pharmacies and medical institutions on a single digital platform.
• Avalon Health offers offline functionality that allows healthcare professionals to continue working despite limited internet connectivity.
• The startup seeks to improve healthcare coordination by centralizing medical records, prescriptions, appointments and diagnostic results.

Panashe Madzudzo is a Zimbabwean software engineer and technology entrepreneur. He serves as founder and chief executive officer of Avalon Health, a startup that seeks to centralize healthcare management. The platform connects patients, healthcare practitioners, medical facilities and healthcare financing organizations within a unified ecosystem.

Launched in 2022, Avalon Health simplifies access to healthcare services and improves coordination among stakeholders across the healthcare sector. By automating administrative processes, the platform enables healthcare professionals to devote more time to patient care.

Avalon Health tailors its services to the specific needs of different users. Patients can access medical histories, schedule appointments and communicate directly with healthcare providers through the platform. Meanwhile, physicians can manage patient records and organize consultations using dedicated digital tools.

The platform also integrates hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and medical imaging centers. By consolidating healthcare data within a single digital environment, Avalon Health streamlines patient journeys and improves continuity of care.

To support these objectives, the platform incorporates prescription management, notification services and laboratory result processing. Furthermore, Avalon Health includes a robust offline mode designed to address local infrastructure challenges. Healthcare professionals can continue using the system during internet disruptions, while the platform automatically synchronizes data once connectivity returns.

An Entrepreneurial Journey Driven by Innovation

Panashe Madzudzo has expanded his leadership activities beyond digital healthcare. He also serves as chief executive officer of Lioncap Ventures, a technology consulting firm. In addition, he holds the position of chief technology officer at Shona Prince Technologies, a company that develops innovative solutions and strategic partnerships for emerging markets.

His entrepreneurial journey began at an early stage. In 2019, he developed VhulApp, a centralized portal dedicated to online applications and digital learning. One year later, he founded Asantech Incorporated to build B2B digital solutions for the retail sector.

Madzudzo built his technical expertise through academic and practical experience at Hillcrest College in Zimbabwe. He studied mathematics, physics and computer science at the institution until 2019. At the same time, he gained professional experience as a web developer between 2016 and 2018. During that period, he designed applications and digital solutions for the school.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J. A de Berry Quenum

• Mohamed Lamar Diallo founded Labtani in 2025 to modernize healthcare management across Africa.
• Labtani’s AI-powered FormScribe tool automatically transcribes and structures medical records using voice recognition technology.
• Diallo brings more than a decade of experience in information technology, data management, finance, insurance and healthcare-related systems.

Mohamed Lamar Diallo is a Canada-based technology entrepreneur active in Africa’s digital health sector. He serves as founder and chief executive officer of Labtani, a platform that aims to modernize healthcare management. The company seeks to reduce administrative workloads for healthcare professionals, laboratories and medical institutions while improving patient journeys.

Founded in 2025, Labtani helps medical teams manage daily operations more efficiently. The platform handles appointment scheduling, organizes clinical records and tracks healthcare activities. By automating repetitive and time-consuming administrative tasks, the system allows healthcare professionals to devote more time to patient care.

At the center of the platform is FormScribe, an intelligent voice-recognition tool developed by the startup. The technology transcribes practitioners’ speech and automatically places information into the appropriate sections of medical records. The system also identifies missing data in real time and generates a completed document that healthcare professionals can review and validate.

Beyond documentation, Labtani addresses a broad range of operational needs within the healthcare sector. The platform includes teleconsultation services, digital prescription capabilities and direct communication tools for patients. It also supports team coordination, schedule management and laboratory logistics monitoring.

Strong Foundation in Technology and Data Management

Mohamed Lamar Diallo built his career on a combination of management expertise and systems engineering skills. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Montreal in 2012. He later completed a master’s degree in information technology at Télé-Université du Québec (TÉLUQ) in 2018.

This academic background enabled him to spend more than a decade working for major Canadian organizations. He began his professional career in 2014 as a business systems analyst at Groupe Dicom Transport. He then joined pet health and wellness products distributor Mondou in 2017 as an IT business analyst.

He subsequently moved into the finance and insurance sectors. In 2018, he became a business analyst at SSQ Insurance. He returned to a similar role in 2020 after joining insurer Beneva. Between 2021 and 2023, he worked as a security business analyst for financial cooperative group Desjardins.

Before dedicating himself fully to entrepreneurship, Diallo served as an information technology advisor at the University of Sherbrooke from March 2025 to March 2026.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Guinea has launched a $393,333 Japanese-funded digital health pilot to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare access in remote areas.

• The project uses SPAQ technology developed by SOIK Corporation and combines a mobile application with portable ultrasound devices.

• The initiative aims to directly benefit more than 5,000 pregnant women and 5,000 newborns while supporting the digital transformation of Guinea’s healthcare system.

Guinea launched a digital health pilot project in Conakry on Tuesday, June 16, to improve access to maternal and neonatal healthcare services in remote communities. The Government of Japan finances the initiative with $393,333 and implements the project in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The project relies on the Japanese SPAQ technology developed by SOIK Corporation.

“By connecting a dedicated application to a portable ultrasound device, SPAQ enables healthcare providers to optimize and modernize prenatal monitoring, centralize medical results and strengthen monitoring activities in isolated areas,” Japanese Ambassador to Guinea Kato Ryuichi said. He added that the project will also deploy a mobile clinic, equip 10 healthcare facilities and train 20 midwives to use the digital solution.

The initiative aims to bring healthcare services closer to populations living in some of the country’s most remote locations. The combination of a mobile application and a portable ultrasound device will allow healthcare workers to conduct prenatal examinations, identify high-risk pregnancies more quickly and improve monitoring of both patients and newborns.

The project expects to directly benefit more than 5,000 pregnant women and an equal number of infants. The initiative comes as Guinea continues to face significant maternal and neonatal healthcare challenges. According to government authorities, the country has only one midwife for nearly 20,000 inhabitants.

At the same time, recurring floods have increased pressure on healthcare access. Authorities reported that floods affected more than 175,000 people in 2024, further complicating access to health facilities across several regions.

Long travel distances, shortages of medical equipment and limited healthcare coverage in some rural areas continue to constrain maternal healthcare delivery and prenatal monitoring services.

Beyond improving prenatal care, the project seeks to accelerate the digital transformation of Guinea’s healthcare system. Authorities aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of digital tools in expanding access to specialized healthcare services in remote areas. They also expect the initiative to strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system against future health emergencies and climate-related disruptions.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Burkina Faso-based startup Hacking Group developed SuiviVital to digitize patient monitoring and medical record management.
• The platform enables remote interactions between patients and doctors through a digital medical record system.
• SuiviVital aims to improve healthcare continuity, particularly for patients living with chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

Burkina Faso-based healthtech startup Hacking Group, co-founded by Bienvenu Emmanuel Birba, developed SuiviVital as an e-health solution that uses digital tools to improve patient monitoring and facilitate access to healthcare services.

The company offers features designed to strengthen medical data management, treatment monitoring and interactions between patients and healthcare professionals.

“When we noticed that even pregnant women and people living with chronic diseases such as cancer or diabetes often struggle to monitor their blood pressure or blood sugar levels, we developed SuiviVital, which allows patients to save their health parameters,” Bienvenu Emmanuel Birba said. He added: “With this application, it is also possible to connect patients and doctors. In other words, the doctor can monitor the patient remotely through a digital medical record.”

The platform centralizes selected health information and facilitates the monitoring of consultations, treatments and medical appointments. The company aims to improve the flow of medical information while reducing some of the administrative constraints that healthcare facilities and patients face.

SuiviVital forms part of a growing wave of African healthtech solutions that use digital technologies to address some of the limitations of traditional healthcare infrastructure. Meanwhile, the expansion of smartphone adoption, mobile internet access and digital services continues to support new use cases in connected healthcare across the continent.

The startup also aims to strengthen disease prevention and promote more consistent patient monitoring, particularly for chronic conditions that require long-term care. Digital tools can improve communication between doctors and patients while facilitating access to medical information.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Togolese startup DoctaMob launched a health “super-app” that centralizes medical appointments, teleassistance, ambulance requests and pharmacy services.

• The platform seeks to address structural healthcare access challenges in Togo through digitalization and mobile-based services.

• DoctaMob plans to expand beyond Togo as West African healthtech adoption accelerates.

Togo-based startup DoctaMob has launched a digital health platform in Lomé that aims to simplify access to healthcare services through web and mobile applications.

The company positions the platform as a healthcare “super-app” inspired by international models such as Doctolib, while adapting the model to local market realities.

Available on Android and iOS, DoctaMob allows users to book medical appointments online, locate healthcare facilities, identify on-duty pharmacies, request ambulances and arrange home-based care services. The platform also integrates teleassistance features and remote medical advice services.

DoctaMob has centered its business model on digitizing the patient care journey. The startup aims to reduce several structural constraints in Togo’s healthcare system, including long waiting times for healthcare professionals, fragmented access to medical information and patient mobility limitations.

In parallel, DoctaMob seeks to strengthen trust in its healthcare ecosystem. According to the company’s promoters, healthcare professionals listed on the platform must provide supporting credentials and undergo verification procedures before the platform validates their profiles.

The platform references doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other practitioners through a control system designed to limit fake profiles and uncertified medical services.

DoctaMob operates within a broader expansion of healthtech solutions across West Africa, alongside platforms such as Rivia, ASKcare and Kénèya Koura.

As smartphone penetration, mobile money adoption and digital usage continue to rise, several African startups have accelerated efforts to improve healthcare access through platforms that combine teleconsultation, medical geolocation services and digital healthcare management.

Beyond Togo, DoctaMob has outlined regional growth ambitions. The startup’s founders plan to gradually expand the application into other African markets facing similar healthcare access and medical service coordination challenges.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

• Rivia Clinics combines connected medical clinics, teleconsultation and centralized patient management through its proprietary RiviaOS platform.
• The Ghanaian healthtech startup launched in January 2024 in Accra under founder Isidore Kpotufe.
• The company uses a subscription-based corporate model to simplify employee access to healthcare services.

Rivia Clinics is a healthtech solution developed by a Ghanaian startup. The company aims to simplify access to healthcare by combining connected clinics, teleconsultation services and digitized patient management systems.

Based in Accra, the startup launched operations in January 2024 under the leadership of founder Isidore Kpotufe.

“We are a network of smart clinics offering a ‘WOW’ patient experience for in-person and virtual care. WOW means a (W) warm and welcoming environment, (O) open communication and (W) world-class medical care. We use technology to provide personalized care, create convenience and expand access,” the startup said.

The company operates a network of clinics that serve as entry points into a unified healthcare ecosystem. Each patient within the network benefits from centralized monitoring through the company’s proprietary software platform, RiviaOS, which consolidates medical records, prescriptions and consultation histories.

One of the platform’s main objectives is to reduce fragmentation in healthcare pathways, a recurring issue across many African healthcare systems where medical data often remains scattered between institutions. By centralizing patient information, Rivia aims to improve continuity of care and facilitate coordination between healthcare practitioners.

The company has also strengthened its digital offering through teleconsultation services accessible via several channels, including messaging applications and video calls.

This functionality aims to reduce congestion at physical healthcare facilities while providing faster access to medical consultations, particularly for patients requiring initial diagnoses or routine follow-up care.

Rivia’s business model relies on contracts with companies that provide employees with subscription-based access to healthcare services. The system seeks to simplify healthcare access for workers while reducing administrative constraints often associated with traditional health insurance systems.

Beyond healthcare delivery, the startup is also seeking to develop a broader healthtech infrastructure.

The acquisition of software solutions and integration of hospital management systems are strengthening the company’s positioning as both a technology provider and a medical services operator.

At a time when African healthcare systems continue to face capacity, coordination and digitalization challenges, companies such as Rivia are illustrating the emergence of hybrid models that place technology at the center of healthcare transformation.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum