Cloud Clinic is Bringing Clandestine Narratives to the Healthcare System Through Tech in Nigeria, Amidst Post-Covid19- CEO
By Blessing Enebeli and Adeyemi Adekunle
Technologies have played a significant role in transforming the landscape of various industries, including healthcare. As the world readjusts to the post-COVID-19 pandemic, innovation in this sector has become even more crucial. Nigeria, like many other countries, has been significantly impacted by the pandemic, and the healthcare system is in dire need of transformation. In cushioning the pain of the pandemic, the innovative solution offered by Cloud Clinic, a Nigerian startup, has garnered attention.
Dr. Ifeanyi Anike,the founder of the medical organization, while speaking with journalists, analyzed Cloud Clinic as a technology platform that is shaping the future of healthcare in Nigeria. Their innovative system facilitates seamless interaction among various stakeholders in the healthcare sector. Through their platform, patients can consult with doctors from the comfort of their homes or offices. Additionally, patients can locate nearby pharmacies and medical labs, receive prescriptions, and undergo recommended tests. Cloud Clinic acts as an orchestrator, enhancing accessibility and convenience in healthcare services.
Speaking on the affordability aspect of Cloud Clinic’s offerings, Dr. Anike emphasized that the platform fosters competition among different players in the healthcare sector. By adopting a marketplace approach, Cloud Clinic does not dictate the prices charged by pharmacies or medical labs. Instead, they invite partnerships with these establishments. Presently,Cloud Clinic has already partnered with around 1,000 healthcare providers, some of whom are still reviewing the agreement. The goal is to collaborate with partners in close proximity to patients across Nigeria, enabling them to offer services at their own prices. Consequently, patients pay similar prices for medications and services as they would at physical pharmacies and labs. Cloud Clinic does not add any additional costs, ensuring accessibility for all individuals, considering the varying cost of living in different regions.
Reacting to the structural framework of Cloud Clinic and how they collect feedback from users to continually improve their services. Dr. Anike acknowledged that internet penetration remains a significant challenge in Nigeria since their solution relies on internet access. However, the CEO expressed optimism about increasing internet connectivity, citing data indicating that about 90 million Nigerians had internet access in 2019. He announced the recent introduction of Starlinks, a service that provides internet access across Nigeria. Although cost remains a barrier, the founder of Cloud Clinic anticipated that competition among private sector players like MTN would lead to more affordable services and improved access. Furthermore, reselling strategies and potential government interventions could contribute to better internet access.
Cloud Clinic is actively engaging in conversations with governmental health organizations, such as health management schemes in different states, to collaborate on enhancing healthcare accessibility and affordability. Dr. Anike drew attention to the success of similar partnerships in France, where the government cooperates with organizations like Doctors Leap to provide healthcare access to all citizens. Emulating this model in Nigeria could help bridge the accessibility gap and ensure healthcare is available to every Nigerian.
To address the challenge of bridging gaps in access, education, and affordability, Cloud Clinic’s strategy was questioned. Dr. Anike revealed that Cloud Clinic is actively developing tools and educational materials internally to facilitate user understanding of their platform. They approach this challenge from two angles: educating users on the platform’s features, value, and usage, and continually improving the user experience.
Cloud Clinic has created a learning management system called Clinic University, comprising videos and textual content to train users, including patients, doctors, medical labs, and pharmacies, on utilizing their platform effectively. This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that individuals from all backgrounds, regardless of their technological expertise, can easily comprehend and utilize the platform. Dr. Anike acknowledged the feedback received from the public, which aids in identifying areas for improvement and making the platform increasingly user-friendly.
Journey through the pandemic
The post-COVID-19 era presents enormous opportunities for innovation in the healthcare sector. The experience of COVID-19 has emphasized the need for digitalization in healthcare delivery. The widespread adoption of remote consultations and telemedicine has highlighted the potential for technology to transform healthcare delivery. This transformation presents an opportunity to break down existing barriers to healthcare accessibility and provide services to rural and underserved communities. In the post-COVID-19 era, healthcare providers must leverage technology to enable greater efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance patient outcomes. The future of healthcare delivery is undoubtedly digital, and healthcare providers must embrace this reality.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had several impacts on the healthcare system in Nigeria. The pandemic has caused a huge strain on the system, particularly with the limited facilities and medical personnel available. The lockdown measures imposed to curb the spread of the virus exacerbated the situation, with many patients unable to access healthcare services. The pandemic has highlighted the need for better healthcare infrastructure and investment in the sector. Addit the rise of virtual healthcare services and telemedicine has become more prevalent as a result of the pandemic, providing innovative solutions for patients to access healthcare services remotely.
In response to the post-COVID-19 healthcare system in Nigeria, Cloud Clinic has implemented a number of innovative solutions to help improve access to healthcare for all Nigerians. One of the key ways that Cloud Clinic is responding to the pandemic is by leveraging its technology to enable remote consultations and telemedicine services. This has helped to reduce the risk of infection and the spread of the virus while also enabling more people to access healthcare services from the safety and comfort of their own homes. Additionally, Cloud Clinic is working to expand its network of healthcare providers and improve the efficiency of its operations to better serve the needs of its clients.
Future prospects of Cloud Clinic in a post-COVID-19 Nigeria
Despite facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prospects for Cloud Clinic in Nigeria remain bright. The increase in demand for virtual healthcare services has proven beneficial for the platform. Furthermore, the company’s ability to provide affordable and accessible healthcare services to patients across Nigeria could help bridge the existing healthcare gap in the country. In addition, the company’s use of technology to connect patients with qualified healthcare professionals could increase healthcare efficiency and reduce costs in the long term. Overall, Cloud Clinic has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry in Nigeria, particularly in a post-Covid-19 world.
Cloud Clinic is not only bringing revolutionary technological advancements to the Nigerian healthcare industry but is also playing a significant role in addressing the longstanding challenges surrounding clandestine narratives in the system. Through its innovative solution, patients can now easily access healthcare services online, confidentially discuss their medical concerns, and receive treatment recommendations from a pool of certified practitioners. This not only enhances access to quality healthcare services but also promotes transparency and accountability.
Moreover, its post-COVID-19 approach has ensured that patients can still access healthcare services remotely, especially in times of lockdown or stringent movement restrictions. Cloud Clinic has succeeded in optimizing healthcare delivery in Nigeria and giving patients the confidence to be fully engaged in their healthcare journey, and its mission revolves around combining access to healthcare, as highlighted by their tagline. The organization will not only continue to be dedicated but will always use technology as a synergy to bridge gaps and transform Nigeria’s healthcare system as the citizens journey through post-Covid-19.
