Maisha Medik health platform offers critical access, convenience to patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic
THE Maisha Medik digital health platform which connects patients, doctors, health insurance companies and health services institutions through a mobile app is offering critical convenience and vital access to health and medical services for the Zimbabwean public at a time movement is restricted due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The health platform was launched earlier in the year by Cassava HealthTech, a subsidiary of Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe.
Besides the Maisha Medik digital platform, Cassava HealthTech also operates the Maisha Health Fund (formerly known as Steward Health) and MARS.
It, therefore, provides end-toend healthcare services – from access through the Maisha Medik digital platform, medical insurance cover through Maisha Health Fund, to medical emergency and rescue services (incorporating road and air ambulance services) through MARS.
The Maisha Medik digital health platform can easily be accessed by anyone, from anywhere in the country, through a mobile application available for free on GooglePlay store and the Apple App store via this link: https://maishahealthtech.com/maisha-medik-app/
The digital platform connects patients, doctors, health insurance companies and health service institutions through a digital platform which allows for secure and easy information sharing, the storing of health records as well as scheduling of patient-doctor appointments.
“The Maisha Medik digital platform enhances health service delivery in Zimbabwe. It brings convenience to patients, health service providers and health practitioners and allows them to share health-related information in a secure and most confidential fashion,” Cassava HealthTech chief operations officer Denver Phiri reiterated earlier.
The platform, which has been welcomed by medical practitioners, pharmacists and other healthcare service delivery players, is seen as a key step towards leveraging technology and digital platforms to widen access to healthcare services.
Dr Cletos Masiya (MD), chief medical officer at Rapha Healthcare Systems, commended the Maisha Medik platform at the time of its launch as “an answer to past telemedicine challenges”.
“As Rapha Healthcare, we looked for a telemedicine solution and have found the Maisha Medik platform. It is a low-cost platform that is easy to operate with a wide potential patient and clientele base. The platform has beautiful analytics which I found incredibly simple to use,” Dr Masiya said.
Health service providers such as medical laboratories, imaging centres, clinics, and pharmacies are able to use the Maisha Medik digital health platform to securely load, store or process customer information, such as test results and prescribed drugs.
Dr Marlon Nyakabau, the head of Maisha Health, said the platform is enhancing health service delivery at a time physical movement has been restricted because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because the platform is digital, it is helping Zimbabweans access healthcare service providers quickly, while eliminating paperwork in the clinical process. The use of telemedicine through remote consultation is set to decongest health centres and minimise the spread of COVID-19,” Dr Nyakabau said.