Before the outbreak of COVID-19, telehealth initiatives in Africa were in place but were limited by inadequate infrastructure, lack of information, and insufficient funding. The pandemic, however, catalysed a significant increase in the adoption of various telehealth models across the continent. Numerous studies have explored telehealth in the region, few have examined its evolution before, during, and after the pandemic. There are various companies exploring telemedicine, however the impact is still yet to be felt across the African continent.
While telemedicine has existed in developed countries since the early 1900s, technological advancements to support the concept were lacking. Since COVID-19, the telemedicine sector has seen incredible growth in developing countries, including Africa. However, more effort is required to normalise telemedicine by improving awareness and infrastructure, especially in remote areas.
iMoSyS Limited, a Malawi based ICT company is developing advanced telecommunication and information technologies to deliver healthcare services remotely, they will be targeting the first launch of the telemedicine platform in Zimbabwe before end of this year. This platform aims to reduce travel time, enable online diagnostics and referrals, and facilitate prescription fulfilment through integrated pharmacies that can dispatch medicines directly to patients. The “Uber of medicine,” this platform is poised to transform the healthcare sector in Africa.
During Covid, healthcare facilities have struggled to manage the surge in patient numbers, leading to shortages of hospital beds, medical equipment, and healthcare personnel. Telehealth is the way to go, countries need to give strong emphasis on leveraging technology advancement to alleviate challenges faced by those looking to access health services. iMoSyS , has the capacity to develop crucial technology tools for delivering healthcare services, particularly in Africa, where it addresses and compounds existing healthcare challenges. Telehealth is seen as an effective solution for improving access to medical care.
African countries need to enhance access to medical care by relaxing stringent policies and providing essential information as needed. Telemedicine helps ease the backlog of consultations by utilising online resources, doctors, pharmacies, and surgeries. The opportunities in telemedicine are vast, and iMoSyS Limited believes its adoption can be further developed to become a sustainable option for serving the African health sector. Zimbabwe is a great country for this case study, launching a telemedicine platform will not only improve health service but also access for people who would have not have gotten the opportunity to consult specialists in the field of medicine at an affordable fee.