Pre-paid health care on a mobile

The concept, from Bradley Soll, MD of Yarona, one of the largest independent healthcare provider networks in South Africa, has been partnered with Makhonya Investments, a Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) led investment company, which has a 26% shareholding.

The new healthcare products allow patients to see a doctor or dentist and to buy medicines when needed. According to Nkosi Phathekile Holomisa, president of Contralesa, "The healthcare voucher is purchased and loaded onto a cellphone and can be used when and where needed. The pre-paid voucher can be kept on a cellphone for as long as a year and can be used or transferred to a family member or friend in need of healthcare services. That is how easy it is to access healthcare when you need it the most."

Soll explains that there are now nine products on offer, which will be gradually rolled out across South Africa over the next twelve months. "The pre-paid voucher allows patients to see participating doctors or dentists who will then redeem the cellphone voucher and provide the necessary healthcare services."

The company decided to use the cellphone as a means of delivering its product because of its growing popularity. There are at present more than 40 million cellphones users in the country and the technology is well understood and fully embraced by young and old alike.