Digital Healthcare as a means to enable access for the underprevilidged – Sehat Kahani a success story

Sehat Kahani envisions a future in which healthcare is accessible to all in Pakistan, and women are empowered through innovative telemedicine solutions, creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system.

Project start date : 03/02/2017

Last updated : 15/04/2024

Beneficiary country : Pakistan

Healthcare themes targeted

  • Mother and child health
  • Primary healthcare
  • Nutrition
  • Sexual and reproductive health
  • Access to quality medicines/pharmacies
  • Chronic diseases
  • Mental health

Fields of application

  • Health professional training
  • Telemedicine (remote diagnosis and consultations)
  • Information, education and communication for behaviour change (IEC)
  • Patient monitoring and medical data

Stage of development

  • Routine project/operational

Financing method

  • Public (grant/subsidies, call for proposals/call for tender, etc.)
  • Private (private investors, crowdfunding, philanthropy, etc.)
  • Government agency (USAID, etc.)
  • Intergovernmental or international agency

Area where the project is utilised

  • National (in one country only)

Economic model(s)

  • Income generated by beneficiaries
  • Revenue generated by the beneficiaries/healthcare facilities
  • Other (please specify)

Target audience

  • Healthcare professionals and structures (hospitals, healthcare centres/clinics, health networks)
  • Entire population
  • Sick people
  • Pregnant women
  • Children - adolescents (ages 6-18)
  • Young children (0-5 years)
  • Patient family/entourage

Project objectives

  • Decreased morbidity
  • Reduced suffering
  • Improved treatment

Materials used

  • Cellular (mobile) phone
  • Smartphone
  • Tablet
  • Computer
  • Connected objects

Technologies used

  • Mobile telecommunications (without data connection)
  • Internet
  • Mobile app (Android, iOS, Windows Phone, HTML5, etc.)

Offline use

No

Open source

No

Open data

No

Independent evaluation

Yes, auto-evaluated or evaluated by a related organization

About the sponsor

Sehat Kahani (Story of Health) c/o Community Innovation Hub Pvt Ltd

Sehat Kahani, an impactful organization co-founded by physicians Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga in Pakistan, envisions democratizing healthcare access and empowering women. At Sehat Kahani, we work on solving two major challenges in Pakistan. On one end, over 50% of the population lacks access to basic healthcare. On the other hand, in a population of 230 million people, there are 245,000 doctors. However, a significant challenge arises as around 80% of these doctors are female, and 60% of them never practice medicine. Additionally, 15% of doctors move out of Pakistan for better work opportunities, resulting in a doctor-to-patient ratio of 0.5:1000. This situation creates massive healthcare gaps, particularly affecting the underprivileged.

In response to these challenges, Sehat Kahani employs a comprehensive strategy. The organization has established nurse-assisted telemedicine E-Health clinics in low-income regions and developed a mobile application. This application enables urban users to access quality healthcare through online consultations with qualified doctors, serving both corporate and retail markets. To further enhance our impact, Sehat Kahani has introduced additional services, including an E-pharmacy portal and physical pharmacy locations to improve access to medicines. The implementation of a 24/7 helpline ensures continuous support for individuals in need, while specialized services in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and mental health address holistic well-being.

Sehat Kahani’s commitment is reflected in his impressive track record, having conducted 3.1 million direct consultations to date. Through the telemedicine platform, network of female physicians, and expanded services, Sehat Kahani continues to make a meaningful difference in addressing healthcare disparities, particularly for the underprivileged in Pakistan.

Sector : Healthcare (professionals and structures)

Country of origin : Pakistan

Contact : Sponsor website Project website

Partners

  • Tech Valley ABbotabad

    Healthcare (professionals and structures)