Digital health startup MySmartMedic aims to address major needs in the digital healthcare ecosystem, according to Chuks Ekwueme, chairman of parent company UNICCON Group. Ekwueme, who is also the founder of MySmartMedic, made the announcement at the inauguration of its advisory board in early September in Abuja, Nigeria, where he sought expert support and partnerships to advance the company’s vision. He said that the digital healthcare ecosystem requires collaboration to achieve its full potential.

During an overview of the system, Hamilton Gabriel, head of the telemedicine subsidiary at MySmartMedic, said the platform offers home-based teleconsultations, but that serious cases would be referred to appropriate health facilities. Gabriel further said the company plans to deploy MySmartMedic in primary healthcare centers across the federation.

The vision for MySmartMedic evolved over four years through extensive research, innovation, testing, and refinement, Ekwueme said. The role of the advisory board will be to provide independent guidance on business decisions, growth opportunities, and expansion strategies across Nigeria and Africa, he said.

Members’ expertise and professional networks would help position the company as a global brand rather than a local enterprise, Ekwueme added.

MySmartMedic is also targeting an Initial Public Offering (IPO) within the next year to allow members of the public to own shares and participate in the company’s digital healthcare initiative.

Ekwueme said MySmartMedic differs from other telemedicine platforms because it was designed to serve people across different socioeconomic groups. “Its target users include rural communities, middle-income earners and high-income earners,” he said.

The company has developed about five business models, including a community package for people without conventional smartphones or reliable internet access. “MySmartMedic has also developed a native tablet capable of operating with little or no connectivity, making it suitable for underserved and rural communities,’’ Ekwueme said.

“The company’s services include a smartwatch wearable designed to support telemedicine and improve the monitoring and transmission of health information,” he noted. UNICCON’s expertise in AI and cloud computing had enabled it to develop offerings suited to African conditions, he said

Ekwueme said the company owns the intellectual property behind its systems and is focused on creating technologies tailored to Africa. Dr Offiong Archibong-Anyiawu, chairman of the MySmartMedic Board, said the board would help connect the company’s vision with its implementation, institutionalization, and long-term sustainability.

Dr. Cornel Agwu, a finance, investment, and inclusion specialist, commended the company’s focus on healthcare access and financial inclusion. Agwu said Nigeria’s healthcare challenges ranged from limited caregivers, health facilities, and financing, to inadequate health maintenance organization as well as limited household resources.