In September, the US Department of State presented the 2023 P3 Impact Award to HealthTech Hub Africa (HTHA) at Concordia's annual summit. HTHA is a pan-African health technology accelerator that helps governments and start-ups collaborate on data and technology-enabled innovations to strengthen African health systems. It is a partnership between The Novartis Foundation, The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Norrsken Foundation, Bridge for Billions, The Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Rwanda as well as government ministries in Senegal and Rwanda and a wider network of support partners.
The HealthTech Hub Africa based in Kigali, Rwanda, works to fast-track healthcare innovation on the African continent. Its main objective is to stimulate the development of health tech in Africa and their effective integration in public health systems. Through strong partnerships with governments, global funders and key industry players, HealthTech Hub Africa (HTHA) aims to address the most pressing health challenges, particularly in low-income and underserved communities.
"A dual mission: meeting the needs of both entrepreneurs and governments, as they collectively work to advance health equity”
This hub has a dual mission: to meet the needs of both entrepreneurs and governments as they collectively work to advance health equity. It provides a ten-month innovation and investment readiness program for health tech entrepreneurs. Additionally, HTHA established an Intergovernmental Working Group to bring together government leaders and entrepreneurs in developing policy pathways toward health tech integration in public health systems.
To date, HTHA has supported 68 organizations from 17 African countries, reached over 2.35 million beneficiaries, raised $18 million in capital and created over 800 jobs. Over the next three years, HTHA hopes to raise $50 million in funding, reach more than 3 million people across the African continent and create 1,200 local jobs.
Bringing local HealthTech solutions to life
HealthTech Hub members benefit from a comprehensive innovation program, including investment masterclasses, public and private sector partnership opportunities, mentoring, and testing and validation of their solutions in public health systems. The accelerator is committed to supporting local startups to develop data-driven HealthTech innovations that demonstrate their effectiveness in reducing health inequalities. It aims to support the emergence of local HealthTech solutions with regional and global impact by fostering dialogue and partnerships between innovators, policy makers, funders and researchers. It also aims to influence future policy on data and technology for health.
"Health tech startups have emerged as key players in developing innovative solutions to these challenges”
Africa’s healthcare industry has faced numerous challenges, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, a shortage of medical personnel, and limited access to healthcare services in rural areas. However, health tech startups in Africa have been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to address these challenges.
Collaboration and innovation is critical to the success of these startups. They need to work closely with various stakeholders, including government agencies, healthcare professionals, patients, and investors, to develop solutions that meet the local market’s needs.
One example of collaboration in action is the partnership between health tech startups and government agencies. Several African countries have recognized the potential of health-tech to improve healthcare access and delivery in their countries and have launched initiatives to support startups in the sector. For instance, the Nigerian Federal Government launched the N100 billion Health Sector Intervention Fund to provide financial support to startups. Similarly, the South African Government has established the Health Innovation Hub to support health tech startups.
"Telemedicine emerging as a key area of innovation"
Collaboration with healthcare professionals is also critical. Startups need to develop innovative solutions that address the unique healthcare challenges in the local market and develop solutions that meet the needs of patients. Additionally, healthcare professionals can provide startups with valuable feedback on their solutions, helping them to improve their products and services.
Innovation is another critical factor that has contributed significantly to the success of health tech startups in Africa. They need to develop innovative solutions tailored to the local market, to improve healthcare access and delivery, ultimately improving patient health outcomes. Telemedicine is emerging as a key area of innovation. These platforms allow patients to consult with healthcare professionals remotely, reducing geographical barriers to care. They also help reduce costs by making care more affordable for remote populations.
Finally, scaling and demonstrating the impact of their solutions is critical to attracting more investors and ensuring real transformation in healthcare in Africa".