Salient Advisory studies innovations in healthtech across the African continent. This newsletter summarizes the most interesting news we read each month. Submissions are welcome. Feel free to share.
How are AI solutions addressing critical health supply chain challenges?
Earlier this month, Salient hosted the first of 2 interactive webinars featuring live demonstrations of AI solutions addressing health supply chain challenges across Africa. 40+ supply chain leaders and professionals joined from government, global health institutions, and the private sector for a session covering our initial landscape of 18 in-market AI solutions and a live demonstration from Viebeg. Missed it? Watch the recap.
Our next webinar is on May 5, featuring live demonstrations from Opian Technologies and S4D Consulting, both with solutions designed for public sector deployment in Ethiopia and Ghana respectively. Register here to attend!
Nigeria launched new e-pharmacy regulations to govern digital pharmaceutical services
The Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria has launched new electronic pharmacy regulations that establish a comprehensive legal and technical framework for the registration, licensing, and oversight of digital pharmacy operators, including the development of a National Electronic Pharmacy Platform. The move follows the trail of Ghana, the only African country with a government-run, national-scale electronic pharmacy platform launched in 2022.
Two innovative use cases applying AI to longstanding health challenges
SORA, a startup operating across more than 10 African countries, is using AI-powered drones to improve the precision of malaria control. SORA’s drones capture aerial imagery that AI software analyzes to identify only those that actually harbour larvae, optimizing larvicide use by over 60%, cutting manual mapping time by 75% and increasing coverage area by 205%.
In South Africa, Aimee, a WhatsApp-based AI health companion, is helping improve uptake of HIV prevention tools, including PrEP. With nearly 10,000 users, Aimee provides 24/7 confidential guidance on HIV testing, sexual health, and medication adherence, resulting in nearly 50% of users who engaged with the platform proceeding to take up HIV self-testing.
Innovators are testing new models to advance health access, and gaining investor and accelerator support
Zuri Health is expanding Zuri Express, a model that pairs its digital health services with physical mobile outreach, deploying solar-powered clinic buses into high-traffic areas of Nairobi to bring diagnostics, dental care, and cervical cancer screening directly to underserved communities. The approach targets low-income workers, reducing cost of care and eliminating cost of travel to healthcare facilities.
AI Diagnostics, a South African healthtech startup, raised $5.2 million from The Steele Foundation for Hope, iFSP Group, the Global Innovation Fund, and angel investors. Founded in 2020, the company develops AI-powered clinical diagnostic tools for frontline health workers in low-resource settings, including a digital stethoscope for TB detection at the point of care.
Meditect, a Francophone Africa-based startup digitizing pharmacy management, was selected for the 10th cohort of the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa program. Founded in 2018, the company provides African pharmacies with cloud software and real-time data tools to improve medicine access and optimize inventory.
New funds are opening up potential capital sources for innovators
The African Development Bank approved a €7.5 million investment into Breega Africa Seed I Fund, which targets early-stage startups, including in healthtech across Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Francophone Africa.
European venture capital firm Speedinvest launched its first dedicated Middle East and Africa fund with a €200 million target, with Mubadala Investment Company, Qatar Investment Authority & EIB Global committing €40 million. The fund targets early and growth-stage startups across health, AI, and digital infrastructure, investing up to $5 million per ticket.
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