Chadian startup Telemedan is improving access to healthcare in underserved and remote regions through innovative solar-powered telemedicine kiosks.
Founded in 2021 to address the pressing healthcare access issues in remote and underserved regions of Chad and across Africa, Telemedan deploys solar-powered telemedicine kiosks equipped with diagnostic tools like ECGs, stethoscopes, oximeters, and ultrasound probes.
These kiosks enable teleconsultations between patients in rural areas and healthcare professionals in more connected regions. The startup has also developed a USSD mobile application that allows individuals without internet access to schedule consultations and access vital health information.
“Our goal is to make healthcare affordable, accessible, and scalable, ensuring no one is left behind, especially in areas with limited infrastructure,” CEO Abakar Mahamat told Disrupt Africa.
“Travel costs, lack of specialists, and poor infrastructure make it difficult for people in remote areas to access healthcare.”
Other African startups tackling the same issue include the likes of Helium Health, Babyl Rwanda, and mPharma, but Mahamat said Telemedan’s unique value proposition lies in its solar-powered kiosks, its community-based approach, and its assembled medical kit, which provides accurate healthcare access.
“Uptake has been positive, with high demand from local communities and healthcare workers. Our kiosks have seen consistent use in rural areas, and the teleconsultation service is being adopted rapidly, particularly in regions with poor access to specialists. We’ve had positive feedback from both patients and healthcare providers regarding the ease of use and teleconsultation effectiveness,” said Mahamat.
Funded through a combination of grants and partnerships with organisations like the Ministry of Health of Chad, the BJKD Foundation, The UNDP and the World Bank, Telemedan was recently named as finalist for the Zayed Sustainability Prize, which awards US$1 million to the world’s most cutting-edge and game-changing companies.
“Being selected as a finalist for the Zayed Sustainability Prize is a significant milestone for Telemedan and an honour for our team and those who believed in us,” said Mahamat. “This recognition highlights the impact we’ve made in improving healthcare access in underserved communities and underscores our commitment to innovative solutions in sustainable development.”
For now only operating in Chad, the startup plans to expand to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We aim to deploy 100 kiosks in the next few years, reaching one million people in the next three years and increasing our footprint in regions with limited access to healthcare. We are also working on expanding our network and business model to include revenue-sharing with doctors to ensure long-term sustainability,” said Mahamat.
Telemedan generates revenue through kiosk sales and rentals, teleconsultation fees, and campaign partnerships for raising awareness about telemedicine and healthcare access.
