Digital Health Cape Town Announces Finalists for Accelerator Programme

South Africa’s first dedicated digital health accelerator, Digital Health Cape Town (DHCT), has announced the top finalists for their inaugural Accelerator Programme designed to foster local eHealth innovation.

In a press release today, the accelerator said the selected finalists have each developed innovative ehealth solutions that address real-world problems.

The successful participants are:

Udok: The startup headed by Petrus Van Niekerk, provides digital solutions that allow doctors to interact remotely with patients, facilitate treatment and monitor care.

Vula Mobile: Vula is a referral platform developed by Dr William Mapham, which links health workers to specialists in tertiary hospitals.

HealthAtHome: Developed by Dr Anuschka Coovadia, the solution aims to provide high quality, affordable, patient-centric care to patients in the convenience of their homes.

ConnecTB: Brighton Khumalo is behind this web tool which allows administrators, supervisors and directly observed therapy (DOT) providers to register and monitor TB patients.

GeneCare Molecular Genetics: The platform, developed by Nicole Van Der Merwe, aims to deliver high-quality exercise programmes, educational video-coaching, and access to customised diet plans.

Aviro Health: The Aviro ART Treatment Mentor app, developed by Dr Musaed Abrahams, aims to helps nurses in primary care settings to efficiently treat HIV patients.

GC Network: Suretha Erasmus’s startup has developed its Pregnancy Screening app informs individuals of their risk for a chromosome abnormality in their pregnancy, provides detailed information of available prenatal tests and empowers them to make informed decisions.

VR/AR Group (VRHealth): VRHealth is a safe, virtual environment where those admitted in rehabilitation centres for substance abuse can develop new behavioural patterns in a realistic, immersive virtual world. VereShaba is behind this solution.

The eight finalists will take part in a 10-week programme which kicks off on Tuesday (23 January). As part of the programme, they will receive mentoring and in-person sessions with eHealth systems experts and engage in product design discussions with key opinion leaders.

The eight Digital Health Cape Town finalists will take part in a 10-week programme which kicks off on 23 January

Bankmed clinical and operations executive Dr Niri Naidoo, who will be a mentor on the programme, said she is “excited” to be part of the programme.

“Such programmes provide the collaboration and thinking that are the ingredients to creating a new healthcare innovation ecosystem, where we do anything but business as usual,” she said.

Richard Gordon, who is the executive director of  grants innovation and product development at the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is one of the judges for the programme.

“Africa, in responding to its unique healthcare challenges, will benefit from innovative approaches as it is a populace eager for progress. It is an opportune time to explore digital health where the internet, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are going to make a significant impact on healthcare, ” said Gordon.

The official launch of the accelerator programme will be held on Tuesday (23 January) at the Bandwidth Barn Khayelitsha.