35 Healthtech Startups Disrupting the Medical Narratives in Africa | USAEMALL.com

In Summary:

• Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt are at the forefront of Healthtech and Health Startups in Africa.
• By the end of 2025, Africa’s healthtech market is expected to reach a market value of over $11 billion, with a significant growth rate of 23.08%.
• Telemedicine, mobile health apps, and electronic health records are anticipated to be the major drivers of the growth of healthtech in Africa.
• In this article, we have highlighted 35 top Healthcare startups across Africa. Some are getting global recognition for the first time.

Deep Dive!!

In 2023, Africa’s digital health market was valued at USD 3.8 billion and is projected to expand at a remarkable Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.4% between 2024 and 2030. This growth is driven by the urgent need to alleviate the strain on the region’s healthcare systems and the rapid development of digital technologies capable of diagnosing, monitoring, and treating health conditions remotely.

Expert reports and projections indicate that by 2025, Africa’s healthtech market will surpass $11 billion in value, growing at a robust rate of 23.08% to serve the continent’s 1.4 billion people. This highlights the immense potential for digital health solutions to address critical healthcare challenges, including infrastructure gaps and shortages of medical personnel. Key areas of focus include telemedicine, mobile health applications, and electronic health records, all of which are crucial to improving healthcare delivery in underserved regions.

This impressive growth is largely attributed to the rise of healthtech startups across Africa. These enterprises are pioneering digital health innovations and attracting substantial investment from both local and international sources, positioning the continent as a dynamic hub for transformative healthcare solutions.

Below, we have highlighted 35 Healthtech startups across Africa that are changing the narratives about the poor health sector in the continent. Check them out!

Here are 35 Healthtech Startups Disrupting the Medical Narratives in Africa

Note: The list is in no particular order

1. Mydawa [Kenya]: Established in 2017, Mydawa is a telemedicine company focused on providing affordable, high-quality healthcare products and services across Africa. Its online platform acts as a marketplace that links pharmacies, healthcare providers, and patients, utilising technology to facilitate easy access to genuine medications and healthcare products.
2. Ilara Health [Kenya]: Launched in May 2019 by Emilian Popa, Ilara Health delivers affordable and accessible diagnostic services to underserved populations in Africa, estimated at over 500 million people. The company partners with firms specialising in AI and robotics to reduce diagnostic costs, integrating their devices onto its platform. It supplies innovative diagnostic equipment to healthcare facilities, allowing them to pay in instalments.
3. Zuri Health [Kenya]: Founded in 2020, Zuri Health is a telehealth provider dedicated to improving healthcare accessibility in Africa. Through its mobile app, users can consult with doctors, purchase medication, schedule diagnostic tests, and arrange in-person appointments, offering comprehensive healthcare solutions.
4. Dabadoc [Morocco]: Launched in 2013 by Zineb Drissi Kaitouni, Dabadoc connects patients with doctors to simplify the healthcare journey. In 2018, Axa Assurance Maroc and Orange acquired majority stakes in the startup. Earlier, in 2014, Seedstars recognised Dabadoc as Morocco’s top startup.
5. REMA [Ivory Coast]: Sedric Degbo founded REMA (Réseau d’Échange Entre Médecins d’Afrique) in 2017 to reduce medical errors, a significant cause of deaths in Africa. Initially a social platform for doctors, it now provides remote medical assistance to over 7,000 doctors in countries such as Benin, Senegal, and Algeria. REMA won Seedstars’ pitch competition in Cameroon in 2018.
6. mPharma [Ghana]: Gregory Rockson established mPharma in 2013 with a vision to build Africa’s leading e-prescription network. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company secured $17 million in Series C funding. Its network includes over 850 pharmacies and 155 hospitals.
7. 54Gene [Nigeria]: Founded by Dr Abasi Ene-Obong in 2019, 54Gene addresses the lack of African representation in global genomic data, which constitutes less than 3% of research worldwide. The company aims to bridge this gap by prioritising African genomic data.
8. Helium Health [Nigeria]: Helium Health offers technology solutions to healthcare providers, including electronic medical records, telemedicine, and financial management tools. The platform also assists funders with enrolment, claims processing, and reporting to enhance efficiency.
9. DrugStoc [Nigeria]: DrugStoc, founded in 2015 by Chibuzor Opara and Adham Yehia, combats the issue of counterfeit medication in Africa. It leverages technology and supply chain innovations to ensure reliable access to authentic medicines, supporting healthcare providers with financial solutions and expertise.
10. MedSource [Kenya]: Established in 2017 in Nairobi, MedSource redefines healthcare access in Africa through its Med-Fin-Tech model. It operates a digital marketplace connecting distributors and manufacturers of healthcare products in East Africa, catering to all levels of the healthcare supply chain.
11. MDaaS Global [Nigeria]: Launched in 2016 by Oluwasoga Oni, MDaaS (Medical Devices as a Service) aims to make quality healthcare more accessible through services like BaconHealth Diagnostics and SentinelX, a hybrid digital and physical health management platform.
12. Bypa-ss [Egypt]: Founded by Dr Andrew Saad, Bypa-ss addresses the challenge of fragmented medical records. Its HealthTag platform enables seamless exchange of health information between patients and providers, improving care quality.
13. DawaSwift [Kenya]: Established in 2018 by Odero Otieno, DawaSwift is an on-demand medicine delivery platform connecting patients, pharmacies, and delivery partners. Its AI-powered product, Healthipy, enhances engagement for insurers and pharmacies through tailored health solutions.
14. MedsToGo [South Africa]: MedsToGo, founded in 2016 by Ebrahim Ally, offers a web and mobile pharmacy service ensuring easy access to medications through efficient delivery solutions.
15. Vezeeta [Egypt]: Launched in 2012 by Amir Barsoum and Ahmed Badr, Vezeeta is a leading healthcare booking platform and clinic management system, facilitating seamless doctor-patient interactions across the MENA region.
16. Dileny Technologies [Egypt]: Founded in 2018 by Dr Ahmed Ehab Mahmoud, Dileny Tech specialises in AI and medical imaging, improving breast health diagnostics through its BE-SMART platform, which enhances workflow efficiency for medical professionals.
17. MedAtlas [Uganda]: MedAtlas connects patients to licensed specialists across Africa. Founded by Margaret Mutumba, it addresses inequality in access to specialist healthcare, empowering patients with convenient teleconsultation services.
18. Medsaf [Nigeria]: Co-founded by Vivian Nwakah and Temitope Awosika, Medsaf is an online pharmaceutical marketplace providing trusted medication to hospitals and pharmacies. With 160 recurring clients and over 100 supplier partnerships, it won the 2019 Seedstars Malaria Challenge.
19. Healthtracka [Nigeria]: Healthtracka enables home-based health screenings with results delivered within 1-3 days. Founded by Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, it offers tests for conditions like COVID-19 and STDs, ensuring accuracy and convenience.
20. Africa Health Holdings [Ghana]: Through its MyCareMobile app, Africa Health Holdings offers teleconsultations, test results, and emergency response services to patients in Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya, serving over 200,000 users annually.
21. Nawah Scientific [Egypt]: Nawah Scientific, launched in 2015, is Egypt’s first private multidisciplinary research centre for natural and medical sciences. It has analysed over 100,000 samples and serves as a cornerstone for Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry.
22. Goodlife Pharmacy [Kenya]: Established in 2013, Goodlife Pharmacy is a digital platform facilitating easy procurement and delivery of pharmaceuticals across Kenya and East Africa.
23. Eden Care Medical [Rwanda]: Founded in 2021, Eden Care Medical leverages digital technology to simplify health insurance access in Africa, providing innovative solutions for a better healthcare experience.
24. Rology [Egypt]: Founded in 2017, Rology links healthcare providers with remote radiologists on an on-demand basis, enabling hospitals to access radiology services efficiently and affordably.
25. RecoMed [South Africa]: RecoMed, a digital platform founded by Sheraan Amod, allows South African patients to book appointments with healthcare professionals, simplifying access to physical and virtual medical services.
26. Redbird Inc [Ghana]: Redbird equips pharmacies with rapid diagnostic testing capabilities for ten conditions, including malaria and cholesterol, improving health monitoring across Ghana.
27. 3X4 Genetics [South Africa]: This genetics-based health platform, founded by Dr Yael Joffe in 2018, combines advanced testing and analytics to help clients predict genetic diseases and make informed lifestyle choices.
28. Hi Blance [Nigeria]: Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic by Charles Chiagoziam, Hi Blance offers online ambulance booking, medical travel assistance, and emergency equipment procurement services, revolutionising emergency care.
29. Healthlane [Cameroon/Nigeria]: Founded in 2020 by Alain Nteff, Healthlane connects users to affordable wellness services, promoting healthier lifestyles. It serves over 60,000 users and is backed by Y Combinator.
30. Waspito [Cameroon]: Founded in 2020 by Jean Lobe Lobe, Waspito combines telemedicine, drug delivery, and health advice forums in a user-friendly app, aiming to make healthcare more accessible in Africa.
31. Medikea [Tanzania]: Medikea, established in 2020 in Tanzania, provides a subscription-based telemedicine service tailored to individual healthcare needs, supported by mobile and online platforms.
32. Babylon Health Rwanda [Rwanda]: Known locally as Babyl, this telemedicine provider offers medical consultations via mobile devices, enabling wider healthcare access in Rwanda since 2016.
33. Wazi [Kenya]: Founded in 2018, Wazi is a mental health platform connecting users to virtual therapy sessions with professionals, ensuring privacy and accessibility for patients.
34. Lifesten Health [Rwanda]: Established in 2021, Lifesten Health promotes holistic wellness through incentivised health programmes, encouraging users to achieve physical, nutritional, and mental health goals.
35. Turaco [Kenya]: Founded in 2019, Turaco provides digital micro-health insurance, making affordable healthcare accessible to underserved low-income earners across Africa.

Conclusion

While Africa’s healthcare system continues to grapple with significant challenges—such as a shortage of skilled medical personnel and limited access to healthcare services—these very obstacles are creating fertile ground for the growth of the digital health industry. With an estimated 408.6 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lacking access to healthcare, digital health solutions offer a promising avenue to bridge these gaps, particularly as the region contends with the exodus of medical professionals abroad.

Africa remains one of the most disease-burdened regions globally, with non-communicable diseases contributing to rising rates of premature deaths due to limited healthcare infrastructure and inadequate awareness. Digital health innovations have the potential to play a pivotal role in disease management and prevention, addressing these pressing health challenges.

The future of healthtech in Africa is undoubtedly bright. With sustained growth expected in the sector, the rise of innovative startups across the continent signals a transformation in healthcare delivery. As digital health solutions continue to evolve, they are set to become an integral part of improving healthcare outcomes and addressing longstanding disparities in access and quality of care.