Kasha, a health technology company, has secured major funding, leading the way for Africa’s health innovators to improve access to healthcare products and services.
According to a report by Salient Advisory, funded by the Gates Foundation, Kasha has achieved annual revenues of over $50m, the highest recorded by the research firm to date.
Kasha is among 24 leading innovators featured in the report, “Leading Innovations Enabling Health Product Access in Africa,” which highlights companies making significant strides in improving health product access despite economic challenges.
The report noted that these innovators have collectively partnered with over 100 manufacturers and 75 public health institutions, reaching around 50,000 providers and millions of consumers directly.
Other innovators featured in the report include Chefaa, DrugStoc, Field Inc, Figorr, Grinta, HealthPlus, LifeBank, Maisha Meds, Meditect, mPedigree, MYDAWA, Pendulum, PharmaSecure, Remedial Health, RxAll, Sobrus, Sproxil, Talamus Health, VIA Global Health, Viebeg, Wingcopter, Yodawy, and Zipline.
The report recommended that governments, donors, industry, and global health institutions engage with these innovators to simplify regulatory pathways, explore cost-saving partnerships, and evolve contracting and payment systems to drive further impact.
Speaking on the launch of the report, Yomi Kazeem, Engagement Manager at Salient Advisory, commented, “’The findings underscore the remarkable resilience and growing impact of African supply chain innovators.
“Having tracked healthtech startups for many years, the emergence of a group of leading innovators is exciting to report. Local and global public health communities must increasingly recognise and leverage the innovators in developing reliable and resilient health supply chains.”
The Senior Programme Officer at the Gates Foundation, Ann Allen, said, “Technology-enabled innovations have the potential to help reverse long-running challenges in African health systems while creating local jobs and strengthening local health markets.
“The report confirms innovators are increasingly positioned to deliver on this promise. However, there is more to be done, as leveraging these innovations to truly transform cost-effective access for millions of unserved Africans will require concerted efforts from governments, industry and global health agencies alike.”