Tanzanian startup LyfPlus is making healthcare easier with its affordable telemedicine services.
Founded by William Mduma, the idea stemmed from personal experiences, realising the challenges people face due to limited healthcare professionals and long queues at hospitals.
Mduma explained, “Because of a low number of healthcare professionals per unit population in the country, hospitals are overwhelmed by patient numbers, whereby the setting is usually characterised by long queues and large crowds of patients in health facilities.”
LyfPlus tackles this by offering a mobile and web platform that connects patients with specialist doctors virtually, reducing appointment booking time to less than four minutes.
The platform integrates virtual consultations, medical testing, and e-prescriptions, providing instant access to essential health services.
Mduma highlighted the benefits, which include patients finding better value in continuous care over single appointments, leading to better health outcomes.
Launched in 2019, LyfPlus has onboarded 200 specialist doctors and 40 health facilities in Tanzania, allowing patients to access timely and affordable care.
The startup charges between $5 and $16 for virtual consultations and takes a five percent commission on partner test facilities.
LyfPlus, having secured $80,000 in pre-seed funding and grants, is expanding its reach. The startup has conducted feasibility studies in Kenya and Uganda, exploring the acceptance of telemedicine solutions through the “East Africa Cross-Border Telemedicine Platform” project.
Mduma believes that their dynamic market-entry strategy positions them above existing competitors in these markets.