While there have been notable strides in recent years, vast disparities persist across the continent, leaving millions without access to essential medical services.

One of the primary obstacles to healthcare access in Africa is the underfunding of healthcare systems.

Despite these challenges, there are positive developments that offer a glimmer of hope for improving healthcare access in Africa.

Mobile health solutions, telemedicine, and other digital tools are being explored to expand access to healthcare in remote areas.

Kangpe Health is one such startup using tech to bridge the gap in healthcare access in Africa.

About Kangpe Health

Kangpe Health is a Nigerian startup that is revolutionizing healthcare access in Africa by providing a convenient, affordable, and accessible platform for people to connect with verified medical professionals.

Founded in 2015, Kangpe Health has grown to become a leading provider of telemedicine services in Africa, serving over 50,000 users across three countries: Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.

Kangpe Health’s mission is to “make healthcare accessible to everyone in Africa.” The company’s platform provides a range of services, including:

• 24/7 access to consultations with verified doctors
• Online diagnosis and treatment of common ailments
• Referrals to specialists for more complex care
  Health education and awareness resources

Through its innovative approach to healthcare delivery, Kangpe Health has made a significant impact on the lives of Africans, particularly those in underserved communities.

Kangpe Health’s achievements have been recognized by numerous organizations, including: MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35 Africa award, Y Combinator Demo Day Africa award, and
mHealth Africa Award for Excellence in Mobile Healthcare.

The significance of their work lies in the fact that approximately 70% of medical decisions require some form of diagnosis, such as a blood test.

Nevertheless, more than 500 million people in Africa today face challenges accessing or affording even a simple blood test.

Ilara Health strives to make diagnostics in Africa more affordable, accessible, and accurate, bridging the diagnostic gap and elevating the quality of healthcare.

Greater access to diagnostic equipment not only yields health benefits but also empowers clinics and pharmacies to increase their revenue by offering additional services to patients.

However, traditional diagnostic machines come with steep price tags, often reaching tens of thousands of dollars.

This cost is prohibitively high for Ilara’s customer base, consisting of informal businesses like clinics and pharmacies that lack access to traditional financial services commonly used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support their growth.

To surmount this challenge, Ilara Health has established partnerships with international manufacturers of next-generation, small, portable diagnostic devices, many of which integrate with mobile phones.

These devices, currently in the market, are capable of diagnosing infections as well as non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Emilian Popa, the Co-Founder of Ilara Health, emphasizes the pivotal role played by smartphone medicine and digital health in making small, affordable, and precise diagnostic devices accessible.

These innovations are poised to replace the bulky and expensive legacy machines that have historically been out of reach for the facilities Ilara Health targets.

Although Ilara’s devices are significantly more affordable than their legacy counterparts, their price tags still present challenges for informal clinics to purchase outright.

To address this issue, Ilara introduced an innovative financing option: clients make a small initial deposit, and the remaining balance is settled over 24 months.

Ilara’s devices are connected to a technology platform that allows the company to remotely deactivate them if a client fails to make payments.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite its innovative business model, Ilara Health faces several hurdles in its mission to transform healthcare.

Operating in areas where healthcare services are informal and disorganized presents unique challenges.

Understanding the dynamics of healthcare delivery in a low-income setting is complex, as many people may not be aware of the areas where Ilara operates, despite their proximity to major cities.

Another challenge involves providing extensive training to clients on how to operate the diagnostic devices. While they are skilled medical professionals, they often lack the necessary knowledge, requiring dedicated training efforts.

Moreover, many of these clinics encounter cash flow constraints that affect their ability to make timely payments. Managing the collection of leasing fees presents its own set of challenges, despite the presence of a well-structured system.

Ilara Health’s dedication to making diagnostic services more accessible, affordable, and accurate has the potential to reshape healthcare in Kenya and beyond.

Their innovative subscription model and partnerships with international manufacturers exemplify the power of sustainable economic models in the healthcare sector.

With continued efforts, Ilara Health is poised to make a profound impact on healthcare outcomes in Africa, improving the lives of millions who struggle to access vital diagnostic services.

The company’s mission is to revolutionize the agricultural landscape through innovative technologies enabling data-driven sustainability decision-making.

DigiCow’s flagship product is the DigiCow dairy app, which allows farmers to digitize their farm records, access training resources, and receive real-time alerts on important dates.
The app also has a peer-to-peer learning platform where farmers can connect and share best practices.

In addition to its dairy app, DigiCow also offers a variety of other services, including:

• Digital vet and AI services
• Digital extension services
• Data-driven decision-making tools

DigiCow has worked with over thousands of farmers in Kenya and has been recognized for its innovative work.

In 2019, Digicow was named the most innovative Agritech in Kenya at a World Bank challenge and was part of the Disruptive Agricultural technologies’ 1 Million farmer platform’.

The Challenge DigiCow is Solving

Smallholder farmers in Africa face several challenges, including:

• Lack of access to information and training
• Limited access to financial services
• Difficulty in market access
• Climate change

DigiCow’s technologies are designed to help smallholder farmers overcome these challenges and improve their productivity and profitability.

For example, the DigiCow dairy app provides farmers access to training resources, real-time alerts, and a peer-to-peer learning platform.

This helps farmers stay informed about best practices and make better decisions about their farms.

DigiCow’s digital extension services also help farmers access expert information and training.

This is especially important for farmers in remote areas who may not have access to traditional extension services.

DigiCow’s Achievements

DigiCow has achieved several successes since its launch in 2018.

The company has worked with thousands of farmers in Kenya and has been recognized for its innovative work.

In 2019, Digicow was named the most innovative Agritech in Kenya at a World Bank challenge and was part of the Disruptive Agricultural technologies’ 1 Million farmer platform’.