Women can now seek advice and buy contraceptives online
Cousins win awards for health business idea
Digital clinic Zoie Health has launched an online contraceptive service available to women countrywide.
Run by cousins Dr Nonhlanhla Sitole, 37, and Thato Schermer, 31, the application called MyContraceptive allows women to speak to a doctor specifically for contraceptives and order them online without going in for physical consultations.
This is an add-on service after launching an online health centre last year.
The duo based in Johannesburg has in the past month won two international awards. Last month, their business won top prize at the HBS Africa Business Club New Venture Competition 2022 in Boston, US. They also won the grand prize at the Stanford Africa Pitch Competition in California which will incubate their start-up.
“It was quite a pleasant surprise to win these awards so early in our start-up journey and we were the first female founding teams to win. It just reiterated that people need these services,” said Schermer.
The women launched the health clinic last yea. Consultations for contraceptives on this platform are from R250 and monthly contraceptive delivery costs about R200 depending on the type of contraceptive. To compare, gynaecological consultations often cost R850 upwards.
“A harrowing experience at the OBGYN’s [obstetrician-gynecologist’s] office for me, and a season of postpartum depression for Nonhlanhla, as well as countless anecdotes from friends, colleagues and families, helped us understand how widespread and severe this problem [bad experiences] was and the opportunity to use technology to help solve the problem for millions of women,” said Schermer.
“I think people are much more comfortable doing things online now because of
the pandemic and this helped us capitalise on the online market,” said Schermer.
“The cost of healthcare is so high for something many women need every month. We wanted to provide a service that was fast, affordable and convenient.”
Schermer and Sitole have about 50 healthcare providers available on the app including doctors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, doulas, midwives and dieticians. Some of the services are voluntary but prices range from R50 to R1,320.
“I have a bachelor of business science honours from the University of Cape Town and … worked for three of the largest healthcare companies on the continent,” said Schermer.
“Nonhlanhla has a PhD in genetics and molecular biology, her research focused on cervical cancer metastasis and HPV in Africa. … She is equally as passionate about using science and technology to advance access to healthcare services for women across the globe.”