TELEMEDICINE is becoming more popular in Zimbabwe and throughout Africa, and it is expected to grow across a number of industries as Artificial Intelligence becomes more widely used, according to experts.
Telemedicine refers to the provision of remote clinical services, via real-time two-way communication between the patient and the healthcare provider.
It is especially useful if you are managing a chronic health condition.
Scotel Private Limited managing director Stephen Mashingaidze told Standardbusiness in an interview that the adoption of telemedicine was growing in the country.
“The telemedicine kit market in Africa is steadily growing, with an increasing number of healthcare providers adopting telemedicine solutions to reach underserved populations and improve access to healthcare services,” he said.
“In Zimbabwe specifically, telemedicine is also gaining traction as a way to overcome geographical barriers and provide medical care to remote areas.”
He continued: “The market is still relatively nascent in both Africa and Zimbabwe, but there is a lot of potential for growth and innovation in the coming years. Overall, the telemedicine kit market in Africa and Zimbabwe shows promise for expanding access to healthcare services and improving health outcomes.”
Despite the state of the market that it is still emerging, Mashingaidze said some countries in Africa were taking steps to develop and update their regulatory frameworks to better accommodate telemedicine practices.
He said clear and supportive regulations can help boost confidence in telemedicine technologies, encourage investment in the sector, and ultimately drive adoption of telemedicine devices.
“The regulatory framework in Africa plays a crucial role in shaping the adoption of telemedicine devices,” the managing director said.
“In many African countries, there may be limited or outdated regulations specifically addressing telemedicine, which can create uncertainty for healthcare providers and technology companies looking to implement telemedicine solutions.
“Additionally, varying regulations across different countries in Africa can pose challenges for companies operating in multiple markets.”
Mashingaidze highlighted that the regulatory landscape in Africa can either facilitate or hinder the adoption of telemedicine devices, spotting the importance of creating a conducive environment for the growth of telemedicine in the region.
The telemedicine market size was valued at US$87,41 billion in 2022 and was projected to grow US$94,44 billion in 2023 to US$286,22 billion by 2030.
In 2024, the projected revenue in the digital health market in Africa is expected to reach US$6,31 billion.
Meanwhile, Scotel Zimbabwe has signed a memorandum of agreement with a Canadian company Tech4Life Enterprises to enhance the development of the market and increase the sales of its telemedicine kits.
Tech4Life Enterprises said it would be advantageous to coordinate its sales activities with Scotel to possess a readily available and extensive sales network in the region.
“Tech4Life has done various projects in African countries such as Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia. Overall, Africa has one of the highest potential for Telemedicine compared to other regions,” Mashingaidze stated.
In order to obtain insight into the healthcare landscape in Africa, he urged the authorities to work together with local healthcare providers and organisations to adopt telemedicine.
He also added that they should be aware of the regulatory environment surrounding telemedicine in the targeted countries and invest in infrastructure to support telemedicine services.