African healthtech company Field has introduced a new route-to-market service to address maternal mortality, newborn health, and nutrition. Announced on September 11, the launch is backed by an initial $11 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The initiative will use Field’s technology, distribution network, and financing services to deliver emerging therapies across Kenya and Nigeria.

It will focus on digitalizing healthcare operations and enhancing supply chains, including financing options, last-mile delivery, and installing pharma-grade refrigerators.

Digital transformation, particularly in healthcare, is crucial for development. Implementing Digital Health Systems is expected to improve access to medical care and reduce inefficiencies. By tracking pharmaceuticals using digital tools and AI, the government can better manage resources and ensure that essential medicines reach patients, thereby improving public health outcomes.

Zambia has begun rolling out Digital Health Systems in hospitals nationwide to enhance healthcare delivery and ensure the availability of essential medicines. The project was announced on September 4 by the Ministry of Science and Technology. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, it aims to digitize healthcare services and combat drug pilferage.

At the launch of the project in Gwembe, Southern Province, Minister of Science and Technology Felix Mutati highlighted the role of modern technology in transforming healthcare. He noted that hospitals would now use digital tools to extend healthcare access to more Zambians. Additionally, the system will track pharmaceuticals from procurement to patient use, aiming to curb drug theft in healthcare facilities.

Access to basic healthcare services in Zambia is unevenly distributed between provinces and between urban and rural areas. According to the International Insulin Foundation report on Zambia’s Health System, in urban regions, 99% of households are located within 5 kilometers of a health facility, whereas in rural areas, only about 50% of households have similar proximity to healthcare facilities. The digitization initiative aims to bridge this gap by utilizing digital tools to reach more citizens, especially in underserved rural regions

Meanwhile, drug theft has been a longstanding issue in the Zambian health sector whose national drug stock level was 53.1%, below the World Health Organization’s minimum threshold of 70%. Transparency International highlighted the concerns in 2020 when Zambian journalists uncovered irregularities in a US$17 million health kit procurement. By digitizing health services and leveraging AI technologies, the government improves accountability in the pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring drugs are tracked from procurement to patient use, ultimately boosting transparency and curbing mismanagement.

This move aligns with Zambia’s ‘Health Information Systems Strategy 2022 – 2026’ vision of “a national health information system that harnesses digital innovations to support evidence-based decision making for quality and equitable health services.”

Hikmatu Bilali

Malaria remains one of Africa’s most pressing public health issues, accounting for over 90% of global malaria cases and deaths. Leveraging AI to enhance prevention, detection, and treatment can drastically reduce the disease’s burden, saving lives and improving health outcomes.

The University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Convergence Research Centre for Insect Vectors (CRCIV) of South Korea have signed an agreement to advance malaria research using artificial intelligence (AI). The partnership, signed on August 30, will establish a Research Center of Excellence at UNZA’s School of Engineering, focusing on preventing malaria outbreaks through AI technology.

For UNZA Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Bornface Namangala, the partnership marks the beginning of a transformative effort to tackle malaria, a leading cause of death in Zambia.

SMART Zambia National Coordinator, Percy Chinyama, praised the collaboration, noting that the center could serve as a learning platform and help institutionalize AI in Zambia.

The initiative will leverage cutting-edge AI technology to identify mosquito species and combat malaria. An AI-powered system will be deployed to collect and accurately classify mosquito species, enhancing the precision of malaria prevention efforts. This project has garnered strong support from the government.

According to the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), which aids sub-Saharan African countries in controlling and eliminating malaria, Zambia remains highly endemic, with the entire population at risk. In 2022, the National Malaria Elimination Centre (NMEC) reported over 8.4 million cases, an incidence rate of 428 per 1,000 people annually, and 1,337 malaria-related deaths, equating to 8 deaths per 100,000 people.

This initiative aligns with Zambia’s National Malaria Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan 2022-2026, which outlines a framework for tracking malaria program indicators, data sources, analysis, information flow, reporting, and feedback for informed decision-making. It directly supports the plan’s goal of improving data-driven decision-making and achieving better health outcomes.

Hikmatu Bilali

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation have launched the HealthTech Startup Accelerator Program, a Pan-African initiative focused on transforming healthcare across the continent. Hosted at the HealthTech Hub in Kigali, Rwanda, the program aims to empower startups to develop innovative health technologies that address Africa's critical healthcare challenges.

The accelerator offers early-stage startups mentorship, funding, and access to advanced resources. Applications are open to African-owned startups with founders aged 18 to 35, who have a minimum viable product in sectors like telemedicine, healthcare logistics, diagnostics, and mobile health. Interested startups must apply by October 6, 2024.

Tackling healthcare disparities intensified by conflict and displacement is crucial for building long-term resilience and self-sufficiency among refugees. Utilizing advanced technology allows for the provision of immediate medical aid, enhancing healthcare accessibility a vital element in the broader framework of African development and stability.

U.S. messaging platform Gupshup, Meta (formerly Facebook), the Sudan Medical Specialization Board, and Shabaka, a consulting and research organization dedicated to humanitarian issues, have jointly launched a telemedicine chatbot. The initiative, announced by Gupshup on July 3, aims to deliver medical assistance to Sudanese refugees.

“We are honored to be part of this humanitarian project that aims to provide essential healthcare services to Sudanese refugees in need. By leveraging the power of conversational AI and the reach of WhatsApp, we can make a significant impact on the lives of these individuals who have faced immense challenges,” said Beerud Sheth,  Founder & CEO of Gupshup.

The chatbot, accessible via WhatsApp, targets refugees in Egypt, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Djibouti, and other neighboring countries. The telemedicine service offers a secure, regulatory-compliant platform supporting Arabic and English, with additional languages planned.

According to Gupshup, the project aims to meet the urgent healthcare needs of about 800,000 Sudanese refugees with limited access to medical services. The chatbot allows patients to connect with healthcare providers, who then route them to a triage team for assessment before linking them to one of over 18 specialty doctors.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reveals that the ongoing conflict has left nearly 25 million people in Sudan in need of humanitarian assistance, with severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel affecting millions. This underscores the importance of scalable, tech-driven solutions in humanitarian aid efforts to support vulnerable populations in crises effectively.

Hikmatu Bilali

The solution, launched by several tech entrepreneurs, aims to revolutionize the pharmaceutical supply chain. It is growing fast and intends to expand to several countries in Africa.

Egyptian startup Grinta has developed an e-health solution that allows pharmacies to replenish their medicine stocks via its web and mobile platforms. Founded in 2022 by Hamza Tag, Yosra Badr, Mohamed Azab, and Ali Youssef, the Cairo-based startup aims to become Africa’s leading wholesale platform for medicines, cosmetics, and medical supplies, serving as the primary intermediary between pharmaceutical laboratories and pharmacies.

To achieve its ambitions, Grinta has made several acquisitions of companies operating in its sector. Last August, it acquired Auto Cure, a business-to-business e-commerce platform serving independent pharmacists in Alexandria, bolstering its growth in this region. “The acquisition of Auto Cure underscores Grinta’s commitment to delivering value to its customers and expanding its presence in the Egyptian market,” said Mohamed Azab.

Grinta’s mobile application, available on iOS and Android, requires pharmacies to create an account to access its supply chain. They can replenish their supplies via digital distributors, manage their stocks and sales, access educational content, and arrange financing or loans. “We empower our customers to purchase the pharmaceuticals and supplies they need and provide them with tools to manage their working capital and inventory through an easy-to-use and inclusive platform, enabling them to prioritize patient care,” the startup explains.

Beyond Egypt, the e-health platform, which claims to have served over 7,000 pharmacies and delivered more than 200,000 orders by August 2023, is also operational in Tanzania. With ambitions for expansion, the Android version of its mobile application has been downloaded more than 10,000 times, according to the Play Store.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

The solution was set up by young tech entrepreneurs to make it easier for people to buy medicines in local languages. It won first prize at the 2023 Orange Summer Challenge.

Seribox, an e-health solution developed by the Sily Group, leverages artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to enable users to acquire medicines in local languages. The group, led by Youssouf Djafara Diallo, initially showcased its solution at the 2023 Orange Summer Challenge. This competition, organized by telecom operator Orange, assembled students from diverse universities across 15 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Seribox operates as a medicine dispenser that can be procured via a smartphone functioning as an order terminal. Users simply press the microphone icon button, akin to creating a voice note on an instant messaging application, to place an order in their chosen local language. In a demonstration video, Diallo placed orders in Sousou and Peulh, two local languages prevalent in Guinea.

The system responds in the order’s language, ensuring to repeat the ordered medicine’s name and its price. It automatically shifts the order to the shopping basket, with the option to add more orders to the basket. Upon completion of this stage, users validate the order by pressing the corresponding green button. The terminal then displays a QR code, allowing the bill to be paid via the Orange Money application. Once payment is confirmed, the dispenser releases the ordered medicines for the user to collect without any issues.

It’s important to note that Seribox does not dispense medicines that require a doctor’s prescription. Doctors must log into a dedicated platform to prescribe drugs that can be utilized on Seribox. They can prescribe up to four drugs per prescription, and upon doing so, the system generates a QR code. Users can photograph the prescription or have it printed on paper to place their order with Seribox. An order can also be canceled by sending a voice message to the device.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

The e-health solution was established by a former banker, who ventured into entrepreneurship driven by her desire to transform telemedicine in Central Africa. 

AfriWell Health, a Congolese healthtech startup, offers a platform for patients to connect with healthcare professionals for treatment. Founded in 2022 by Joelle Itoua Owona and based in Pointe-Noire, the startup secured an undisclosed funding from Google for Startups in March 2023 to bolster its growth.

The company’s solution, an Android-exclusive mobile application, allows users to register with their personal details and access a variety of healthtech services, including online appointments with general practitioners and specialists.

Since AfriWell Health has doctors worldwide, consultations are mainly carried out online. Owona’s goal with her healthtech solution is to address the doctor shortage in Africa, particularly in Congo. The platform maintains a digital medical record for each patient, providing doctors with a comprehensive view of their medical history.

The startup also facilitates healthcare provision for the Congolese diaspora to their relatives back home. Additionally, AfriWell Health provides a weekly updated list of on-duty pharmacies in Pointe-Noire, streamlining the medicine purchasing process for patients.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

In 2018, three young Togolese entrepreneurs launched a bespoke mobile application aiming to provide citizens with nationwide digital health records. This initiative aims to enhance access and improve healthcare delivery across the country.

KondjiGbalē is a healthtech solution developed by a Togolese startup that enables users to connect with healthcare professionals via its web and mobile platforms. The Lomé-based startup was founded in 2018 by three young Togolese, with Yvon Koudam as the CEO. 

This application is like “a comprehensive digital health record, functioning similarly to a health passport. Additionally, it empowers patients to actively manage their medical history. For healthcare professionals, it facilitates diagnosis and streamlines the overall treatment process. Notably, the platform offers diverse access channels, including a website, mobile app, call center with local language support, and a USSD menu catering to areas with limited internet connectivity,” says Koudam. 

The mobile application is only available on Android. After downloading, users must register by providing their details. Once registered, users can access a range of healthtech services, including a shared medical file, teleconsultation with doctors, online medication ordering and delivery, medication alerts, and the ability to locate nearby on-call pharmacies, streamlining healthcare access and management. These features enable users to proactively manage their health and efficiently obtain professional medical assistance and medication from home.

KondjiGbalē has received several awards since its launch. In 2019, it took first prize at the Fenes' Pitch Your Startup Idea and the Togo Innovation Challenge. According to Play Store data, the mobile app has been downloaded more than a thousand times.

Adoni Conrad Quenum

He aims to improve access to healthcare services in Africa. With Zinacare, he offers over 20 different tests, ranging from sexually transmitted infections to chronic diseases and even Covid-19.

Philip Mngadi (photo) is a South African serial entrepreneur with a decade of experience building products in Africa and Europe. He is the founder and CEO of Zinacare, a company revolutionizing access to essential health testing services in Africa.

His academic career began at University College Cork, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 2017. After his studies, he worked for Stripe in Ireland as a payments specialist before embarking on entrepreneurship.

In 2020, he launched Zinacare, allowing access to more than 20 different tests, which range from sexually transmitted infections to chronic diseases and COVID-19. He enables users to order test kits from the Zinacare platform and get them delivered to their homes or offices. Users can also send their samples to Zinacare's partner laboratory, which sends back the results online confidentially and securely. Zinacare also offers medical consultation, prescription, and post-test follow-up services.

Under the leadership of Philip Mngadi, Zinacare has received accreditation from the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, the South African National Accreditation System, and the International Organization for Standardization. In addition, the company succeeded in attracting over 20,000 customers in 2022 and is on track to double the figure in 2023.

In June 2023, the startup was selected by Google to be part of the annual Black Founders Fund cohort in Africa. It has also joined StartUp Health's global community of healthcare founders and investors.

In addition to Zinacare, Philip Mngadi also founded Pago, a low-cost mobile micropayments platform for the informal sector to enable an inclusive economy by digitizing remittances through the use of blockchain technology. The company was incubated by the AlphaCode Incubate initiative in 2018.

In 2019, the serial entrepreneur also founded Tuma, a fintech that enables users to transfer funds from any instant money wallet such as eWallet, CashSend, and Send-iMali, to any bank account in South Africa.

Melchior Koba