Quick access to patient information is sometimes as valuable as the skill or expertise of the health care providers. In Benin, the majority of the population does not have medical records or medical identification available in case of emergency. KEA Medicals, created by Vena Arielle Ahouansou, a young Beninese doctor, has developed a universal medical identity system to interconnect health facilities and facilitate the communication of patient data wherever they are. The platform provides a hospital information system that digitises the entire operation of hospitals and helps meet Africa's healthcare challenges, thereby working towards achieving MDG 3 (Access to Health).
An unmistakable click
A few years ago, the Dr Vèna Arielle Ahouansou saw an expectant mother die after giving birth to twins. The new mother could not remember her blood type and the time it took to retrieve this information was fatal. This traumatic experience prompted the young intern to create KEA Medicals, a Benin-based startup that uses cutting-edge technology to store and transfer basic medical information for use in emergencies.
The directory platform Universal Medical ID links the user's profile and medical history to a unique QR code printed on wristbands or cards. These can be easily scanned in an emergency to quickly access the owner's medical profile. With this technology solution, KEA Medicals saves time and resources spent on patient care, improving the overall quality and cost of care provided.
Kea Medicals: a useful and accessible solution
With the KEA Medicals solution, users can register via their mobile phone, providing key data such as
- their blood type,
- their allergies,
- the chronic diseases they suffer from,
- who to contact in case of a crisis or other medical problems.
This information is then recorded in a QR code affixed to a patch and a wristband, enabling fast and efficient patient care. The solution saves practitioners 7 to 10 minutes for each consultation and improves the quality of care provided. The bracelets cost 4 dollars (about 2800 FCFA) and the patches 2 dollars (about 1400) and must be renewed once a year.
On the road to global expansion
After a great start in Benin, this company launched in 2018 has expanded its activities to the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Senegal and Tunisia. Its ambition is to scale up outside Africa and implement this solution in Europe and the United States. An ambition that could be accelerated thanks to the visibility of KEA Medicals made possible by its various awards and ongoing projects.
Indeed, KEA Medicals was one of ten African start-ups selected by French drugmaker Sanofi to participate in Viva Technology, an annual innovation event that connects young technology companies with large corporations. In addition, Dr Ahouansou is the winner of the Future In Africa Project Award. She is also an alumna of the Women In Africa Entrepreneurship Program.
The next step for KEA Medicals is to use blockchain, a digital technology that promises to provide transparency, traceability and artificial intelligence to help hospitals and doctors' surgeries digitise medical records. These records containing sensitive health information are owned by the patient and can only be accessed with their permission, through PIN codes assigned to doctors. KEA is also working on a digital system for hospital management so that administrators have the right information in real time.
Beyond education, African technology start-ups like KEA Medicals are providing concrete solutions to concrete problems. Unlike other digital health solutions, universal medical identification allows for an interdisciplinary approach between healthcare providers regarding patients' medical information, which speeds up medical care and limits costs.
