5 Startups to Know in The Nigerian Health Tech Space

Nigeria’s health tech ecosystem has continued to rapidly evolve, driven by the country’s growing population and increasing healthcare needs.

The country’s health tech landscape is seen as an area with significant growth potential, which has seen it attract investments from international venture capital firms and impact investors. 

In 2020, a report revealed that Nigerian health tech startups experienced a surge in funding activities, coming second only to the financial services startups in terms of funding size and the number of deals made in 2020.

The Health Tech landscape consists of a variety of startups and initiatives aimed at improving healthcare access, deliveries, and outcomes.

Check Out Five (5) Health Tech Startups in Nigeria You Need to Know

1.) Lifebank

Founded in 2016 by Temie Giwa Tubosun, Lifebank is a healthcare technology and logistics company based in Lagos, Nigeria.

The startup facilitates the transmission of blood from labs across the country to patients and doctors in hospitals.

It delivers an average of 300 imperial pints (170 L) of blood a month to more than 170 hospitals across the state. It also regularly runs blood drives across the state, in collaboration with the state government’s blood transfusion services, to help increase the supply of blood.

LifeBank works to find technological solutions to improve healthcare in Africa.

The company has had a profound impact on healthcare in Africa. It uses data, technology, and smart logistics to improve the discoverability, delivery, affordability, and safety of essential medical products like blood and oxygen for health systems in Nigeria and Kenya. 

Since its creation, LifeBank has saved thousands of lives by delivering more than 25,000 essential medical products to roughly 550 hospitals in need.

2.) Remedial Health 

Remedial Health is a Nigerian health tech startup that develops solutions to improve efficiency in Africa’s pharmaceutical value chain.

The company has an inventory software system that can be used by pharmacies and clinics for inventory and stock management, employee management, and patient information storage.

Remedial Health operates at the intersection of healthcare, supply chain management, technology, and financial services, delivering the digital procurement infrastructure to power effective healthcare distribution for Africa’s 1.2 million pharmacies.

Starting in Nigeria, Remedial Health has built an effective operating system for pharmaceutical buyers and suppliers, working with more than 300 manufacturers and serving more than 5,000 hospitals, pharmacies, and PPMVs across 34 of Nigeria’s 36 states, with regional hubs to enable a seamless experience across the country.

3.) Health Tracka

Health Tracka is a Nigerian digital health platform providing lab testing solutions. 

Founded in 2021, Healthtracka allows consumers direct access to a wide range of testing options and clinical services from home. 

The company empowers people to take an active role in their health to live longer, happier lives. It provides rich health insights to enable better healthcare decision-making through health data and diagnostic results.

Healthtracka’s offering is a website where individuals can book their lab tests online, have their samples collected at home, and get their results via email within 48 hours. The tests range from fertility and STD tests to full body count and COVID tests.

Healthtracka also works with doctors to review results and specialists for further consultation. But while a typical test covers phlebotomists’ trips and doctors’ reviewing results, customers pay extra when Healthtracka connects them with specialists if the diagnosis is worrying.

4.) Medsaf

Medsaf is a curated medication marketplace for African hospitals and pharmacies.

The health tech startup is a global organization with its headquarters in the United States and a presence in Nigeria. 

Medsaf leverages technology to provide direct access to quality medication manufacturers for hospitals and pharmacies. It offers an online marketplace for drugs. The product range includes a wide range of medications, vitamins, and supplements. 

Users can search for various products and request quotations on the platform. The platform also enables users to explore information on drugs, manufacturers, and general health topics.

The company uses embedded financing and technology plugs in financiers, logistics, and quality control as a service, and employs blockchain and data analytics, enabling manufacturers and other stakeholders to have access to crucial data on the movement of medications.

MEDSAF is the premiere pharmaceutical technology provider of genuine and authentic medications. The platform provides hospitals and pharmacies with access to credit, inventory management, and logistics. It’s a one-stop procurement service.

The startup believes that quality medication is a fundamental human right.

5.) Helium Health 

Helium Health is a Nigerian startup that provides software-as-a-service tools, financing, and insights for healthcare providers and public health organizations.

The startup provides dynamic digital tools and facilitates financing, empowering healthcare providers and decision-makers to improve the lives of everyday Africans.

Founded in 2016, Helium Health takes hospitals and clinics instantly digital with its flagship Electronic Medical Records/Hospital Management Information System (EMR/HMIS) product, the most widely used solution in West Africa.

Helium Health works with leading global health organizations and governments, supporting them to execute their strategies, informing policy and decision-making, and improving outcomes for us all.

The startup aims to use technology to provide better healthcare services for Africans.