According to a McKinsey study, the popularity of telemedicine in the world increased 78 times in April 2020, a few months after the Covid outbreak. In parts of Africa, it was an opportunity to make new inroads. In Uganda, the industry has taken off through a startup called Rocket Health, which is working to transform the delivery of medical care using technology.
Rocket Health offers online medical consultation, collection of samples and the delivery of medicines. They have a USSD service for those who don't have internet. Over the next two years, the startup will scale its integrated digital health solution to more regions across the country and within East Africa, following a $5 million Series A funding. Growth opportunities in West Africa will be pursued in the long-term.
The co-founder and CEO of Rocket Health said that the plan remains to make healthcare easily accessible across Africa, a region with the highest disease burden in the world and the lowest patient-to-doctor ratio. According to the World Health Organization, sub-Saharan Africa has a lower ratio of doctors for every 10,000 people than the most developed countries.
I think tech helps us cover that gap, create more efficiencies, and broaden our reach beyond. We can't build enough hospitals to be able to reach everyone with the health care they need. Musinguzi said that he thinks that telemedicine helps breach the gap of availability.
A lot of healthcare facilities and professionals are still centralized in the urban areas. Many people don't get the benefits of highly skilled individuals. I think we can bridge that gap with technology and infrastructure.
The call center is for Rocket Health. The image is from Rocket Health.
The latest funding round was led by a firm backed by a family, with participation of early-stage African investors, and brings the total funding raised by Rocket Health to $6.2 million.
We are delighted to partner with Rocket Health on its mission to make healthcare accessible to many people in Africa. We have been impressed by the creativity, tenacity and vibrant culture of the Rocket Health team, who hold an ambitious vision for the future of African primary care. There are many opportunities, from data analytics to innovative distribution channels.
Quro Medical, a South Africa startup, which offers home care, and mPharma, a health tech startup from the West Indies, are both in the space of telehealth.
Musinguzi says that Rocket Health's lab and pharmacy delivery services help them remain in control of the delivery of products and services. They charge a consultation fee and a delivery fee.
The company has grown from a few thousand virtual consultations a year to about 400,000 due to the demand for remote healthcare during the Covid pandemic.
Covid has made it easier to introduce people to the internet. People who have had a magical experience with last mile telemedicine usually never go back to waiting in hospitals to see the doctor. Musinguzi said that they now do tests like PCR testing in addition to home-based care.
Musinguzi co-founded Rocket Health with other people.
Delivery of medicine is one of the services offered by Rocket Health. The image is from Rocket Health.
Its clientele range from people who want their children to bevaccinated to people with chronic illnesses. Most of the insurance companies that have signed up have a regional presence, giving it access to a pool of customers within Uganda and across East Africa.
A lot of our clients are in urban areas, and they love the convenience of our services. Musinguzi said that companies have started buying subscriptions for casual workers who don't qualify for corporate medical covers.
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