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((INTRO))
To address the relatively high cost of healthcare in Africa, a Kenyan mobile application lets users pay for medical services by selling their personal data through blockchain technology. Officials say Snark Health's Hippocratic Coins have attracted more than 300 doctors and 4,000 users. Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi, Kenya.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptKENYA HEALTHCARE APPLICATION
HEADLINE: Kenyan App Users Pay for Healthcare with Personal Data
TEASER: Snark Health's Hippocratic Coins use blockchain technology, demonstrated during Africa tech summit in Nairobi
PUBLISHED AT: 02/22/2023 at 6:25pm
BYLINE: Victoria Amunga
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Nairobi, Kenya
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jimmy Makhulo
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Schearf, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Africa Tech Summit
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT 3:12
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG, RADIO
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
To address the relatively high cost of healthcare in Africa, a Kenyan mobile application lets users pay for medical services by selling their personal data through blockchain technology. Officials say Snark Health's Hippocratic Coins have attracted more than 300 doctors and 4,000 users. Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi, Kenya.
((NARRATOR))
Kenyan startup Snark Health is helping patients cut healthcare costs using an application that monetizes their data and connects them with doctors.
Using blockchain technology, a third of the proceeds from the sale of user data are stored as so-called Hippocratic Coins, which can be converted to mobile money.
Developer Edwin Lubanga says user privacy is protected.
((Edwin Lubanga, Snark Health Developer (English, 21 secs))
''The algorithm only picks out specific things we are looking for, maybe a data customer wants to know the type of drugs that are being sold in northern Kenya, Malaria, wants to investigate a certain type of disease and our platform was able to capture this. Only the analytics are the ones kicked out and this is the one that we sell to data customers.'
((NARRATOR))
((Nats))
Dr. Muthembwa. “I’m writing your prescription.”
((NARRATOR))
Lubanga says they’ve attracted more than 4,000 users since their launch last year and 300 Kenyan doctors like Karen Muthembwa.
Muthembwa says the app, which also gives doctors a third of the sale of user data, has also boosted her earnings.
((Dr. Karen Muthembwa, OB-GYN (English, 15 secs))
''I can book my patient anytime I want to, including at night. I can say between 5 and 8 pm I have this time and I get my patient’s booking at that time. So, it’s easy for me to manage."
((NARRATOR))
Medical researchers say too many across Africa lack access to healthcare because of poverty and poor infrastructure.
Users like Stacy Kwamboka hope the technology can put medicine within reach for more people like her.
((Stacy Kwamboka, Hippocratic Coin User, (English, 19 secs))
''I made an appointment that was to start in 10 minutes. It was quite fast; the doctors made a call, and I was able to explain how I was feeling. The doctor was able to also make some follow-up questions and prescribed medication for me.''
((MANDATORY COURTESY: AFRICA TECH SUMMIT))
((NARRATOR))
Snark Health is one of scores of startups featured in February at the Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi to seek funding for their innovations.
Finding investors for technology startups is becoming easier, says director Andrew Fassnidge.
((end courtesy))
((Andrew Fassnidge, Africa Tech Summit Director (English 16 secs))
''We had some people who pitched live on stage on Wednesday, and they had funding on Thursday. So, I think Africa technology is super exciting. We are seeing a lot of interest from around the world.''
((NARRATOR))
Kenyan officials are supporting tech innovators like Snark Health with an online platform to attract venture capitalists or “VCs.”
((Agnes Tsuma, Kenya National Innovation Agency Manager (English, 21 secs))
''So far, we have 1,200 users on the platform. We’ve been able to see connections, you know, people requesting for connections with innovators. There are potential investors, VCs requesting to be connected with innovators, about 60 connections. That means we are going to start seeing deals happening soon.''
((NARRATOR))
While the cost of data has slowed the rollout of mobile technology in remote parts of Africa, those costs are going down.
Snark Health says turning the tables for users to benefit from sales of their data will only help to speed up and spread access to services.
((Victoria Amunga, for VOA News, Nairobi.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Nairobi, Kenya
Embargo DateFebruary 22, 2023 23:00 EST
Byline((Victoria Amunga, for VOA News, Nairobi.))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English