If you are in greater East Africa. You are budget sensitive, and are about to fall ill. Move to Tanzania! The data is speaking again. This time it talks about the variance in the cost of healthcare across Greater East Africa and Zambia. The healthcare markets in this study are: South Sudan, Somali-land, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. Firstly, the cost of health in Kenya ranks the highest in the entire region. In Kenya, you will have to part with $1,100 for admission while in Tanzania at only $158 for an average admission cost. In other words, the amount of money to spend as admission cost in a hospital in Kenya could buy a holiday in Dubai. It may be cheaper to book a medical trip to Zanzibar and enjoy the sun and sand than to book a hotel. This analogy between hospitals and hospitality could offer an insight into the cost differences. It may be fair to assume that macro-economic factors such as the cost of living and average wages drive up the cost of healthcare. This would explain why Somali-land and South Sudan have relatively high costs of healthcare. The other hidden issue is investments in healthcare. It is quite possible that Kenyan hospitals have private sector invested in more in their facilities and infrastructure. The data also shows that Kenyans don’t fall ill more than their neighbors. The average Kenyan makes about 2.6 visits to a doctor every year. This number doesn’t change in both Uganda and Somali-land that come in at 2.5 and 2.4 respectively. Tanzanians who coincidentally enjoy the lowest cost of healthcare also make the fewest visits to a hospital at about 1.38 visits per person per year. South Sudan and Zambia follow closely each with about 1.5 per patient per year. This may allude to a generally healthier population or a general health aversion. The data is yet to disclose what the cause. The more interesting data point however is that the Rwandese visit hospitals more than their counterparts. The average Rwandese patient makes 5 outpatient visits per year. Again, we’re not certain if this is due to accessibility of health-care services or an over reporting of illness. The jury is still out on this. Smart Applications International Limited is committed to ensuring the security and protection of the personal information that we process and providing a compliant and consistent approach to data protection laws across our African footprint.
Smart Applications Launches Smart Access The Customer Virtual Healthcare Access App
NAIROBI, Kenya December 1st, 2022 – Leading ICT and biometric giant, Smart Applications International Ltd, fondly known as, Smart, recently launched a virtual mode of medical access, aimed at enhancing patient experience, providing health on-the-go, and providing instant onboarding support to medical insurers, for enhanced provider transparency in healthcare administration. The virtual access will be available on both a newly developed app dubbed Smart Access and through the short code *891# for Safaricom subscribers. Smart has been providing biometric smart cards to all its clientele as the mode of identification for access to medical services installed in over 6,000 healthcare facilities across Africa. With the growing adoption of mobile technology globally the Smart Access will be a timely upgrade from physical biometric smart cards to virtual access. Through the app, patients will be able to access healthcare insurance, view utilisation of their covers instantly, read informational articles about their health, and geolocate their healthcare providers of choice at the tap of their screens. This service will be available in the 11 countries that Smart currently operates in. Speaking during the launch, Smart Applications International, Managing Director, Mr. Harrison Muiru, noted that, “millions of Smart customers will now be able to use virtual access to pay for services across all lines of healthcare. We are cognizant of creating transformative patient centric solutions that address current needs in such economic times ”. Mr. Muiru further noted, “Our team has worked on the Smart Access App to ensure that this unique and comprehensive solution offers accurate users an opportunity to manage access health education on various topics of interest, check for closest medical providers with specified services These features will go a long way in the promotion of trust within the healthcare ecosystem”. “With our newly launched app, a customer traveling through the 11 countries covered by Smart can access healthcare by using the app across all lines of healthcare without having to worry about pre-authorization or even coverage,” said Esther Muiruri, Sales & Marketing Director, Smart Applications International. Smart Applications is committed towards pioneering digitization across Africa and beyond through provision of World Class Technology Solutions.
