SasaDoc
SUSTAINABLE TELEMEDICINE, UGANDA
SasaDoc is an innovative social-for-profit initiative dedicated to providing telemedicine services in the remotest regions of rural Uganda. This pioneering project emerged from a collaboration between postgraduate students from Imperial College London and the Royal College of Art.
In 2014, SasaDoc's forward-thinking and impactful approach to healthcare delivery and its business model were recognised when it was awarded first place in the Entrepreneurship Competition at Imperial College London. This accolade underscores SasaDoc's commitment to blending innovation with social impact, aiming to revolutionise access to healthcare for underserved communities.
The challenge
In Uganda, the ratio of doctors to patients is critically low, with only one doctor available for every 13,000 individuals. This significant imbalance leads to an overburdened and inefficient healthcare system.
As of 2014, a staggering 84% of Uganda's population resided in remote rural areas, where accessing healthcare services is not just difficult—it's a daunting challenge. For some, obtaining medical care means walking for more than 20 hours, selling personal belongings, or sacrificing income, often reaching help too late.
Although non-governmental organisations (NGOs) offer some form of treatment, the absence of follow-up care means many patients lose track of their treatment plans, exacerbating health outcomes.
The primary health challenges in Uganda are communicable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), malaria, respiratory infections, and diarrheal diseases. Notably, Uganda reports the world's highest malaria incidence rate, with 478 out of every 1,000 people affected annually.
How might we enable people living in rural Uganda to access quality healthcare when they need it?
Preventative health measures and health promotion could potentially mitigate up to 75% of Uganda's disease burden. However, access to healthcare remains a pervasive issue across all socioeconomic classes, including the growing middle class and those with health insurance. Visiting a doctor often involves traveling to a hospital, incurring significant time and financial costs.
The outcome
Our research uncovered that despite the challenging conditions in the most underserved villages, over 90% of inhabitants have access to a phone, be it personal or communal. This widespread phone access, coupled with the realisation that many prevalent diseases could be effectively managed through early intervention by a trained healthcare professional, underpins the foundation of SasaDoc.
SasaDoc's mission is to bridge the healthcare gap in Uganda by facilitating telephone-based consultations with doctors. This innovative service is offered at a minimal cost, enabling those who can afford it to access medical advice over the phone. This model also allows SasaDoc to provide free consultations to those who are unable to pay, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services.
This approach has proven to be highly effective, allowing Ugandans to seek timely medical care without the burden of excessive costs or travel. Remarkably, SasaDoc has been able to eliminate the need for hospital visits in 50% of cases, significantly reducing the strain on Uganda's healthcare system and freeing up critical resources to address more severe and urgent medical conditions.
This project consisted of
Design Research
Strategy
Service and Product Design
