Despite public authorities, associations, and organizations’ efforts, access to healthcare is still challenging in Africa. The various solutions developed by start-ups are proving to be interesting alternatives.

Appy Saude is a digital platform developed by an Angolan eponymous healteth startup. It allows users easy access to pharmacies and healthcare centers when needed. With its digital solution, the healthtech startup (founded in 2017) aims to quickly connect people to healthcare professionals, medicines, and information by leveraging digital tools.  

“We are trying to improve accessibility to healthcare services using the digital tools we have available today. [...] Our vision is to connect everyone to our health service, which is what most NGOs and governments are working for,”  said CEO and co-founder Pedro Beirao (photo, right) in 2021. 

Through its mobile app (available for Android and iOS devices), users can create their accounts by providing the usual information: name surname, email, and password. Then they can access all the services offered by Appy Saude. 

The app lists health and beauty products, clinics, healthcare centers, and laboratories. Users can view the feedback and ranks given by fellow users to healthcare centers, clinics, and laboratories. That way, they can choose which healthcare center to go to, based on other users’ experiences. 

To reach a wider audience in Angola, the healthtech startup formed a strategic partnership with telecom operator Unitel. “In terms of expansion, we see mobile operators as an important part of our growth, and the digitization of health services. They have coverage everywhere, they are looking for solutions that people can use to access healthcare or other digital services, and they can help collect data on pharmacies and doctors on our open platform,” Pedro Beirao explains.

In 2019, Appy Saude successfully raised US$1 million to expand into Rwanda and South Africa. In February 2019, it was selected to present its solution at the Africa Startup Summit in Kigali. The following year, it won the ITU Virtual Digital World SME Awards. 

This year, it is one of the 30 African start-ups selected to participate in the pan-African program "Investing in Innovation (i3)" funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. On Playstore, its solution has already been downloaded more than 50,000 times. 

Adoni Conrad Quenum