Digital healthcare provider Unu Health is revolutionising the South African healthcare landscape with the launch of its As-You-Go private healthcare app, designed to make quality healthcare accessible and affordable for everyone. Amidst a national landscape where many face challenges in accessing healthcare due to cost and convenience, Unu Health’s new digital platform emerges as a timely solution, offering services from as low as R179.
The app caters to the modern South African consumer, providing flexible and on-demand healthcare services that align with today’s fast-paced lifestyle. By harnessing the power of digital technology, Unu Health aims to bridge the significant gaps in healthcare accessibility and accessibility, delivering a patient-centric experience that empowers users to prioritise their health and well-being on their own terms. This offering is an app that can be downloaded from various app stores using a smartphone.
“The launch of the As-You-Go offering extends access to the mass market, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their financial constraints or busy schedules, can prioritise their health and well-being,” said Tania Joffe, CEO of Unu Health.
Having spoken to thousands of users and testers in the past two years, Unu Health understands the needs and gaps and has designed an app to help keep healthcare simple, convenient and affordable.
The launch of the retail offering, supported by a partnership with Intercare (a healthcare group) which provides Unu Health app users access to their online healthcare services and national network of in-person doctor consultations, significantly enhancing the healthcare landscape in a country grappling with its status as the world’s unhealthiest country, as highlighted five years ago in the 2019 Indigo Wellness Index (which focuses on blood pressure, blood glucose, obesity, depression, happiness, alcohol use, tobacco use, exercise, healthy life expectancy, and government spending on healthcare).
“Our collaboration with Intercare aligns perfectly with our mission to provide easy access to healthcare through digital platforms. Intercare brings clinical expertise, while Unu Health focuses on ensuring that access to the medical services offered are designed around the needs of individuals in today’s fast-paced world,” says Joffe.
Unu Health has an ecosystem approach to driving the cost of healthcare down and the quality up by working with leading healthcare players who can adhere to their charter of care and always put the patient at the centre of the experience.
Tackling Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) head-on
With this launch, Unu Health aims to transform how South Africans access healthcare and tackle head-on the pressing issue of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), which pose a significant threat to the nation’s health. The app’s innovative features include the ability to do a free monthly health check by measuring blood pressure, pulse, and blood oxygen levels, which is geared towards early detection of conditions like hypertension and cardiovascular disease, addressing key factors contributing to the country’s health crisis.
Studies have shown that in South Africa, 215 people die of a stroke or heart attack daily. Eighty percent of these deaths are premature and preventable. Key contributing factors include elevated blood pressure or hypertension and obesity. Three in every four women are obese in South Africa, with a body mass index (BMI) above 30, and one in three men. “The Unu Health app calculates BMI, providing users with crucial insight to potential health risks,” explained Joffe.
A further contributing factor is elevated fasting glucose, experienced by one in three adults in South Africa. Roughly 13% of the country’s population suffers from diabetes, which is the number one cause of death among women. More than half are not aware of this, as they have been asymptomatic for the first decade or so. Early detection and access to information that helps people adopt healthier habits is key to turning the tide on non-communicable or lifestyle-associated diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Dr Phathokuhle Zondi, Clinical Lead at Unu Health, highlighted the profound implications of these statistics, stating the importance of confronting these challenges head-on and embracing innovative approaches to healthcare delivery that prioritise accessibility, affordability, and empowerment.
“Using the Unu Health app, enables individuals to do a 50 second face scan that measures their vitals and get instant access to healthcare professionals without the hassle of waiting. This innovative feature not only saves time but also empowers users to prioritise their health conveniently and affordably”, said Dr Zondi.
Embracing the future world of healthcare
The As-You-Go model offers queue-free consultations, transparent pricing, and instant access to medical professionals, enabling individuals to prioritise their health. Healthcare that makes you smile.
By leveraging data and technology, the platform drives meaningful change in the fight against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other non-communicable diseases. Personalised health monitoring, insightful analytics, and targeted interventions empower individuals to lead healthier, happier lives.
“We designed the As-You-Go model to demonstrate that access to quality healthcare is as convenient as shopping for essentials online. The platform’s inclusive healthcare solutions cater to diverse needs, ensuring accessibility and affordability for everyone’s journey toward a healthier, happier life,” said Joffe.
