Mobile Healthcare Apps and Online Doctor Consultation Services in Cameroon

Thanks to technology and innovation, the world is evolving, and most countries are now offering all sorts of digital services. Most African countries seem to be slow to adapt to digital healthcare services. There is nothing wrong with Africans wanting to have amenities like those in developed countries to access quality and affordable healthcare services.

Smartphones and mobile phones (what we call choronko) are now available in most African countries, which means digital health services are possible. Moreover, the slowness in adopting mobile healthcare services is not due to a lack of interest but frequent power blowouts, poor internet service, and terrible customer service. While I am not sure about other African countries, I can speak for what is happening in Cameroon. The issue of poor internet and terrible customer service is a topic for another day.

Health facilities, especially public ones, are always saturated, and the long queues in the waiting areas are discouraging. Most of us have experienced the long lines, and even when you come early, there are no guarantees due to others having connections. Most people in rural communities with no health facilities have to travel far to get to the nearest hospital. These are inconveniences, and the more reason why my conversation with my friend brought up the topic of digital healthcare services.

While the challenges are evident, I was curious and started wondering what mobile healthcare apps and online doctor consultation services were available or upcoming in Cameroon. Below is a summary of what I could find:

1. Giftedmom: Founded in 2015. Its mission is to bring about a world free of maternal and infant deaths using technology [1]. They offer health information and monitor services provided by specialists to pregnant women and nursing mothers [1]. They also have services where doctors on-call can communicate with users through text [1]. The app is free. However, to access these services it offers, there is a yearly fee of 1,000 FCFA (US $1.70) [1].

2. Waspito: Connects patients to doctors, laboratories, and pharmacies [2]. Patients can search for specialists near them including general physicians, ophthalmologists, neurologists, dentists, orthopedics, and cardiac surgeons [2]. Patients can consult from home through video calls and even request a lab technician to collect blood samples from home. Medications prescribed once paid can be delivered to the client’s doorstep once paid [2]. This app is free.

3. WellCam: Launched in 2020, its mission is to connect patients with doctors on demand, bridge barriers to access health, and reduce costs for quality healthcare [3]. Patients can consult with doctors for advice, treatments, and prescriptions through video, or text if needed, from anywhere and anytime 24/7 [3]. The app is free for download [3].

4. Mondocteur237: Its mission is to facilitate patient’s access to care, manage online medical appointments, and find the nearest hospital, laboratory, and pharmacy. Booking appointments with specialists is free through WhatsApp and is available 24/7 [4]. Mostly web and mobile applications.

5. Keafon: Keafon seeks to use innovative and strategic ways to improve access to healthcare in rural and semi-urban communities [5]. It offers online and offline consultations with doctors through WhatsApp using text or video calls [5].

6. Pharmafast: They were up and running a couple of years ago, but according to their Facebook page, they shut down their services due to some mistakes. However, it may seem they are currently being revitalized and will be available soon [6]. This app assists patients in locating nearby pharmacies, which pharmacies carry the prescribed medications at a given price, and which pharmacies operate at late hours [6].

Some of you might be familiar with some of these apps and probably using their services already. The mobile healthcare apps and online doctor consultation services listed above are not an endorsement. I have not downloaded or used any of these apps or online doctor consulting services. I am impressed by what I found and say a great job to all the startups in Cameroon putting in their best to find ways to solve the health needs of our communities through technology.

Options to access healthcare services exist, and we should look for what best suits us and make use of these services. These doctors or specialists from these apps are certified and licensed. Sustaining and increasing access to quality and continuity of care for everyone remains a goal for digital healthcare services.

To learn more about the mobile healthcare apps and online doctor consultation services listed, click on the links under references and check them out.

References

1. Giftedmom.org. 2017. ABOUT US | Mobile-based Solutions for Maternal Engagement. [online] Available at: http://www.giftedmom.org/about_us.html

2. Waspito.com. 2022. Waspito. [online] Available at: https://www.waspito.com/

3. Wellcam.net. (2019). Retrieved 12 May 2022, from https://www.wellcam.net/

4. About us Page. (2018). Retrieved 12 May 2022, from https://www.mondocteur237.com/General/aboutus

5. About Us - KEAFON HEALTH. KEAFON HEALTH. (2019). Retrieved 12 May 2022, from https://keafon.com/about-us/.

6. https://m.facebook.com/PharmaFast-109953740915010/?_se_imp=0BBAIVfTxzeMcWyT7

7. Image Credit: https://www.shutterstock.com/search/online+doctor