Telewer, Driving Healthcare Beyond Borders

Telewer is addressing the problem of limited access to specialized medical care in remote and underserved areas in Senegal and across Africa. The lack of healthcare infrastructure, shortage of healthcare workers, and high cost of healthcare services are significant barriers to accessing healthcare, leading to poor health outcomes and preventable deaths. In Senegal, only 0.4 physicians are available per 1,000 people, and 58% of the population lives in rural areas with limited access to healthcare. Telewer's mobile medical equipment and telemedicine platform offer a solution to bridge this gap and provide affordable and instant access to specialized medical care, improving health outcomes for the people of Senegal and beyond. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa bears 24% of the global burden of disease, but has only 3% of the world's health workers. This shortage of healthcare professionals is compounded by the fact that most of them are concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural populations with limited access to healthcare services. Additionally, the cost of healthcare services in Africa is often prohibitively high, with out-of-pocket payments accounting for 36% of total health expenditures, placing a significant financial burden on families. Telewer's telemedicine platform and mobile medical equipment offer a cost-effective solution to improve access to healthcare and address these challenges. 

Telewer is a telemedicine platform that provides instant access to healthcare services through its mobile medical equipment and teleconsultation platform. Telewer's solution consists of a range of mobile medical equipment including mallettes, stations, and cabins equipped with advanced medical technology. The equipment is deployed in remote and underserved areas and is connected to a teleconsultation platform that allows healthcare workers to remotely consult with medical specialists in real-time.

The teleconsultation platform is accessible through various channels, including a web platform, mobile applications, interactive voice response (IVR) system, and chatbot. It provides healthcare workers with access to specialized medical professionals for consultations, referrals, and support. The platform also allows healthcare workers to manage appointments, access patient medical records, and receive notifications for follow-up and health campaigns via SMS, push notifications, and voice messages.

Telewer's mobile medical equipment, including mallettes, stations, and cabins, are equipped with various medical devices such as ECG monitors, vital sign monitors, ultrasound machines, and more. The equipment is portable, durable, and easy to use, making it ideal for use in remote and underserved areas. It enables healthcare workers to provide quality medical care and conduct remote consultations with specialists, thereby bridging the gap in medical infrastructure and providing access to healthcare services for those who need it the most.

Telewer Demo / 5G TELE MEDECINE Telewer

Telewer's solution serves the underserved population in Senegal and Africa, particularly those living in remote and rural areas who lack access to quality healthcare services. This includes people living in poverty, women, children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses.

People with chronic illnesses face a significant burden of disease and require ongoing medical care, which can be challenging to access in remote and underserved areas. They often have to travel long distances to reach medical facilities, which can be costly and time-consuming. This can result in delays in diagnosis and treatment, leading to poor health outcomes.

Telewer's solution addresses the needs of people with chronic illnesses by providing instant access to medical specialists through its teleconsultation platform. This allows healthcare workers to consult with medical specialists in real-time, receive support and referrals, and manage appointments and patient records efficiently.

Telewer's mobile medical equipment, including mallettes, stations, and cabins, provide advanced medical technology in remote and underserved areas, enabling healthcare workers to diagnose and treat patients on the spot. This is particularly crucial for people with chronic illnesses who require ongoing medical care and monitoring.

Overall, Telewer's solution aims to improve access to healthcare services for the underserved population in Senegal and Africa, including people with chronic illnesses, particularly those living in remote and rural areas, and ultimately improve their quality of life.

Our team at Senvitale S&H is uniquely positioned to deliver our solution because we have a diverse set of skills and expertise in healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship. Our team lead has over 5 years of experience in the digital health space and has a strong background in machine learning, big data, and entrepreneurship. In addition, our team includes a surgeon oncologist who has lived and studied in both Africa and China and has direct experience in treating patients with cancer in Dakar.

We are deeply connected to the communities we serve through our partnerships with healthcare providers and our engagement with patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders. We have taken a community-centered approach to our solution development, incorporating input from healthcare providers, patients, and other stakeholders through a design thinking process. This has enabled us to build a solution that meets the specific needs of the communities we serve.

Furthermore, our team has received recognition from various national and international organizations, such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, Orange Group, and the Senegalese government, for our innovative approach to healthcare technology. This recognition has allowed us to establish strong partnerships and secure funding to support our solution development and implementation.

Overall, our team's combination of expertise, community connections, and recognition in the field makes us well-positioned to design and deliver our solution to the target population.

Our solution is currently serving a significant number of people through various pilots and implementations. We are conducting a pilot on telemedicine and cardiology on 5G technology in Senegal with the FANN Teaching Hospital, as well as the health posts of Mermoz and Gaspard Kamara. Additionally, we have started the first telemedicine test in Guinea-Bissau in partnership with the Orange Group, and the deployment is scheduled for the second half of 2023. Another pilot is currently underway in Côte d'Ivoire and is scheduled to begin in June 2023.

During the pandemic, we responded to the Ministry of Health's call with two selected solutions: Prevcovid19 and Telewer Platform. Both solutions were certified and referenced by the DaanCovid19 cell. The Prevcovid19 platform, which was based on a health ministry-recommended algorithm, obtained 120,000 users for a symptom self-testing questionnaire, an interactive map, and pandemic-related information.

Additionally, our solution is being used at four sites in occupational medicine in Senegal. Considering the large number of users across various implementations, we are confident that our solution has the potential to impact a significant number of people in the target population.

Telemedecine Covid19

Prevcovid19

As a startup, Telewer faces several barriers that Solve can help overcome. Financially, we need support to scale up our operations and expand our reach to more underserved communities. Technically, we need to continue to improve our technology infrastructure to ensure we provide the best possible telemedicine services. Legally, we need support to navigate the regulatory landscape and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. Culturally, we need to continue to educate the public about the benefits of telemedicine and address any lingering cultural barriers that may exist. Solve can help us by connecting us with potential partners who can provide us with financial support, legal guidance, technical expertise, and cultural insights to help us overcome these barriers and make our solution a success.

Telewer is an innovative solution that combines the power of telemedicine with cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships. By leveraging the network of telemedicine established by the Center for Telemedicine in Fann and the exclusive partnership with Orange for connectivity, Telewer makes healthcare accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or economic status.

Telewer's unique approach is to use a comprehensive and integrated platform that allows patients to access medical advice, treatment, and follow-up care from qualified health professionals through video consultations, chat, and phone calls. The platform also includes features such as digital medical records, e-prescriptions, and remote monitoring of vital signs.

Furthermore, Telewer's use of 5G, 4G+, and fiber optic connectivity, along with solar energy, ensures that healthcare services are always available and accessible, even in remote or off-grid areas. This not only makes healthcare more accessible but also helps to reduce the burden on traditional healthcare infrastructure.

By catalyzing positive impacts in the telemedicine space, Telewer has the potential to change the healthcare market by expanding the reach and quality of healthcare services, particularly in low-resource areas. With its innovative approach, strategic partnerships, and commitment to making healthcare accessible to all, Telewer is poised to transform the healthcare landscape in Africa and beyond.

Our impact goals for the next year and the next five years are as follows:

Next year:

• Expand the deployment of our telemedicine solution to at least five additional countries in Africa.
• Increase the number of users of our Telewer platform to 500,000.
• Launch our new platform for chronic disease management, which will be specifically tailored to the needs of patients in Africa.
• Establish telemedicine antennas in at least 5 additional countries across Africa, providing remote healthcare services to underserved communities. We will work with local partners and healthcare professionals to ensure that our telemedicine solutions are tailored to each country's unique needs and challenges.

Next five years:

• Expand the deployment of our telemedicine solution to cover the entire African continent.
• Increase the number of users of our Telewer platform to 5 million.
• Develop partnerships with major healthcare providers in Africa to integrate our chronic disease management platform into their existing services.
• Develop new platforms and solutions that address other major healthcare challenges in Africa, such as maternal and child health.
• Establish a certified production unit in Senegal, which will produce medical devices and equipment for use in our telemedicine and healthcare spaces. This will not only create local jobs, but also ensure that our products meet high quality standards and are affordable for healthcare providers and patients.
• Establish at least 50 autonomous healthcare spaces in remote areas, where people currently have limited access to medical care. These spaces will be equipped with solar power and connected to our telemedicine network, allowing people to receive medical consultations, diagnostics, and treatment remotely.

To achieve these goals, we will continue to leverage our strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Centre Africain de Telemedecine and the Orange Group to expand our reach and improve the quality of our services. We will also continue to invest in research and development to ensure that our solutions remain at the forefront of healthcare innovation in Africa. Finally, we will work closely with governments and other stakeholders to ensure that our solutions are accessible and affordable to all, regardless of income or location.

We are using several indicators to measure our progress toward our impact goals. Some of these indicators include:

• Number of people reached through our telemedicine network and services
• Number of successful teleconsultations conducted through our platform
• Reduction in wait time for patients to access medical consultations
• Number of new health facilities equipped with telemedicine technology and trained staff
• Patient satisfaction ratings with the quality of care received through our telemedicine services
• Reduction in healthcare costs for patients and health facilities using our platform
• Number of healthcare workers trained in telemedicine and remote patient management

In addition to these indicators, we are also tracking the progress of our impact goals using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a framework. Our solution aligns with several SDGs, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). We plan to regularly review our progress and adjust our strategies as necessary to ensure that we are effectively achieving our impact goals.

As a virtual healthcare platform, our theory of change is that Telewer will have a significant impact on the health outcomes of the Senegalese and African populations by improving access to quality healthcare services. We believe that by providing remote access to medical consultations, we can help address the shortage of healthcare professionals in many underserved areas and reduce the cost and time barriers that prevent people from seeking medical care.

Our activities involve partnering with medical professionals and institutions to provide teleconsultations, developing and improving our platform to ensure ease of use and reliability, and promoting awareness of our services to increase adoption. Our immediate outputs include the number of consultations conducted and user feedback on the quality of service.

Our longer-term outcomes include improved health outcomes, reduced health disparities, and increased healthcare utilization. We expect that our platform will help prevent and manage chronic diseases, increase early detection and treatment of illnesses, and reduce unnecessary hospital visits. Ultimately, we hope to contribute to a healthier population, a stronger healthcare system, and improved overall well-being.

Telewer's core technology is a web platform and a mobile application that leverages microservices architecture, artificial intelligence, and WebRTC for video consultations. The platform integrates a telemedicine kit that includes medical devices, such as a stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, and thermometer, which can measure vital signs remotely and transmit data securely to healthcare professionals. The AI-powered system can assist in interpreting health data to provide accurate diagnoses and recommendations. Additionally, the platform is designed to work in low-resource settings with intermittent connectivity, utilizing the latest 4G+, 5G, and fiber-optic connections, as well as solar energy for power supply. Overall, Telewer's core technology enables remote and timely access to healthcare services for underserved populations, improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

As the project manager of Telewer, we strongly believe in the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusivity in all aspects of our work. We recognize that the African continent is diverse, with a rich cultural heritage and varying socioeconomic backgrounds, and it is crucial to take this into account when developing and implementing our solution.

Our team is composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including different ethnicities, nationalities, and genders. We believe that having a diverse team helps to bring in different perspectives and ideas, which is crucial for developing innovative solutions.

To further promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity, we have set goals to actively recruit and retain individuals from underrepresented groups in our team, including women, people with disabilities, and individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds. We have also implemented policies and practices that promote an inclusive work environment, such as flexible working arrangements and regular training sessions on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Moreover, our solution is designed to be accessible and inclusive to individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds, with varying levels of digital literacy and access to technology. We have worked closely with local communities and stakeholders to understand their needs and challenges and develop solutions that address their unique circumstances.

Overall, our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusivity is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves equal access to opportunities and resources. We strive to eliminate any unique and systemic barriers that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups and create an environment in which everyone is welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.

Our business model for Telewer is a freemium model. Patients can sign up and access their health passport for free. Healthcare professionals subscribe at a rate of 10,000 XOF per month. We take a 10% commission for telemedicine consultations. The telemedicine kit is sold at a cost of 3,700,000 XOF. We also implement a revenue sharing model with our various partners.

In addition, we offer rental and leasing options for our telemedicine kits, stations, and cabins. To ensure the efficiency of the public healthcare system, we monitor revenue, expenses, and disbursements in real-time via our platform.

Our business model provides value to both patients and healthcare professionals by offering affordable and accessible healthcare solutions. By implementing a freemium model, we ensure that everyone has access to basic healthcare services. The revenue generated from healthcare professionals and the sale of telemedicine kits allows us to invest in expanding our services to more remote areas and reaching more underserved populations.

At Telewer, our plan for becoming financially sustainable involves a combination of revenue streams.

Firstly, we have a freemium business model where patients can access their health passport for free while healthcare professionals pay a subscription fee of X CFA per month. Additionally, we take a commission of 10% for teleconsultations done through our platform. We also generate revenue from the sales and rental of our telemedicine equipment.

In addition, we plan to establish revenue-sharing partnerships with healthcare providers, insurers, and governments to expand our reach and impact. We are also exploring potential investment opportunities to fuel our growth and sustainability.

Our goal is to achieve financial sustainability while still maintaining our mission to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to underserved populations in Senegal and beyond.

Our plan for becoming financially sustainable is also centered around multiple revenue streams. Initially, we will rely on grants and donations to fund our work. However, as we expand our user base and establish a comprehensive territorial network, we aim to generate revenue through our freemium business model. In addition, we plan to offer services to governments and private healthcare institutions through service contracts. As we grow, we may also seek to raise investment capital.

Our ultimate goal is to achieve financial sustainability through the widespread adoption of our platform and the establishment of a complete territorial network. This will allow us to generate revenue through our freemium model, as well as revenue sharing agreements with partners. We believe that achieving a critical mass of users and establishing a comprehensive territorial network will enable us to become self-sufficient and fully sustain our activities without relying on external funding.

Telewer has been successful in achieving financial sustainability through a combination of funding sources. We have received grants from the Senegalese government's Rapid Entrepreneurship Delegation in the form of BSA AIR, and from Orange Corners Innovation Fund (OCIF) sponsored by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. We have also generated revenue from our freemium business model, which allows patients to access their health passport for free while charging healthcare professionals a monthly subscription fee of 10,000 FCFA. In addition, we have raised investment capital through various sources such as the Sprint 2022 prize for the best Senegalese startup, the African Rethink Award in 2019 for the best African startup, and the Top 20 AfricanVsVirus award from the African Development Bank. We have also been recognized with several prestigious awards, such as the Sysley Orange First Prize for innovation and promotion of women's entrepreneurship, and the Startup of the Year award from Total in 2018. These successes demonstrate the potential for our solution to generate revenue, attract funding, and gain recognition in the market.