Nigerian startup DokiLink, an online platform that allows users to find doctors and book appointments with them, is fundraising to expand across West Africa after seeing strong uptake.
Initially launched four years ago as an online social network for doctors, DokiLink pivoted in March of this year and allowing patients to connect with the doctors via its platform.
Users can search the platform for doctors in their area with certain specialisms, with DokiLink currently having over 11,000 registered and verified Nigerian medical doctors on its platform.
The startup has created a personal calendar for doctors, that allows a patient to pick an open slot and book an appointment. Once the appointment is booked, the slot becomes “locked” and the doctor receives a notification via email and SMS.
It all means that the otherwise cumbersome process of identifying a doctor and booking an appointment can be done in less than two minutes, with chief executive officer (CEO) Niyi Osamiluyi, himself a doctor, telling Disrupt Africa the fact DokiLink had an existing network of doctors made it easy to go live across Nigeria immediately.
“In a number of situations in healthcare, time is of the essence. Delay in accessing care or longer waiting times for appointments can negatively impact disease outcomes or prognosis,” he said.
“Considering this we launched a platform that allows consumers and patients to easily find and book appointments instantly with doctors.”
The bootstrapped startup is currently fundraising in order to expand across West Africa, having seen more than 100 appointments booked through the platform since it launched.
“Revenues come from commission on booked appointments, digital marketing for pharmaceutical companies and medical equipment manufacturers, recruiting of doctors for hospitals, and from conducting surveys and market research,” Osamiluyi said.
“We are currently operating in Nigeria, but there are plans to expand to other West African countries by the first quarter of 2018.”
