Tony Wood, MD of Kenyan e-health firm MYDAWA, said while ‘insuretech’ remains a largely untapped market in Kenya, there is clear evidence the technology is helping insurance companies to reduce costs and curb fraud.
The opportunity to reduce loss related to fraud is driving the adoption of digital solutions that offer data analysis and the ability to source ‘actionable data’.
“We give clear information to insurance companies, when we scan prescription of patients,” said Wood. “Over thirty percent of claims to insurance companies are fraudulent. Our service helps reduce that number. Some of our partners have seen a reduction of medicine costs go down by as much as forty percent.”
MYDAWA has signed agreements in place with insurance firms including Sanlam Insurance.
Millicent Osolo from PharmAccess said that through digital initiatives with partners including M-Tiba, they have “unearthed a lot of actionable data.”
“In terms of sharing this data, we can avail an API to researchers to find patterns. We have anonymised our data to protect privacy of individuals,” said Osolo.
Pharmtech deliveries
MYDAWA has also engaged with pharmaceutical technologists (pharmtechs) to enhance the delivery of medicine.
According to Wood, on-demand platforms rely on ordinary/ traditional delivery channels (such as motorbike riders) and these channels might not necessarily have the expertise to handle health products.
An excerpt from a statement issued by MYDAWA reads: “The pharmtechs are fully qualified and licenced by the PPB (Pharmacy & Poisons Board) and are members of their professional association, the Kenya Pharmaceutical Association (KPA) who promote and ensure the provision of good pharmaceutical practice delivered ethically to the required and expected standards.”
The company added that pharmtechs can also dispense medical advice on managing the condition, disease and the medication being administered.
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