South African e-health startup Virtualmedx is a SaaS-based platform designed to bridge the gap between patients and healthcare professionals across Africa via its virtual clinic.
Founded by Mohavi Ratau, an AWS solutions architect, the Virtualmedx platform provides remote consultations, diagnostics, and patient management solutions, leveraging cloud technology and AI to deliver accessible, cost-effective healthcare services to underserved populations.
“We aim to transform healthcare delivery across Africa, offering both telemedicine and job creation opportunities for healthcare professionals,” Ratau told Disrupt Africa.
Virtualmedx was born out of the need for a more accessible healthcare system in Africa, especially in underserved communities, he said.
“There’s a critical shortage of healthcare infrastructure and professionals in Africa, which leads to inadequate access to quality healthcare,” Ratau said.
Virtualmedx fills this gap by offering remote care solutions. While competitors include platforms like Babylon Health and HelloDoctor, Ratau believes his startup’s competitive advantage lies in a “fully localised solution” that “understands Africa’s unique healthcare challenges, regulatory needs, and integration of AI and telemedicine at an affordable cost”.
Virtualmedx’s initial funding came from an initial grant from AWS of up to US$100,000, but it is now backed by a South African investor. Having launched its prototype and developed key partnerships with local healthcare providers, it is now ready for full rollout.
“We are still in the development and pre-commercialisation stage, but there has been growing interest from healthcare professionals across Africa eager to partner with us. We are in talks with several clinics and hospitals, and we’re preparing to launch our service to the public soon,” said Ratau.
“Currently, our operations are focused on South Africa, but we plan to expand to other African countries over the next three years. Our goal is to become a pan-African healthcare platform, with initial expansion into Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, where there is significant demand for telehealth solutions.”
