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Entrepreneurs shaking up the health sector
Youth entrepreneurs are shaking up the country’s health sector by digitalising data and making it easily accessible for people.Krishana Prasain
Youth entrepreneurs are shaking up the country’s health sector by digitalising data and making it easily accessible for people.
Home-grown companies such as Lunivacare, Medsaala.com and Online Aushadhi are at the forefront of the digital wave sweeping the health sector.
Lunivacare, a subsidiary company of Lunivatech, has been keeping digital records of patients’ medical history. Founded by Nuhundra Shakya and Rajiv Shrestha in 2013, the company has been keeping the scattered medical records of patients in a central server by collaborating with different hospitals, clinics and labs. “Access to medical history is crucial in getting the right treatment,” said Shakya.
According to him, the company is officially launching the Lunivacare App at the end of February this year. The app will allow people to store their medical records and access it anywhere, instantly.
The company also plans on providing data analysis based on a customer’s medical record. “We are aiming to provide preventive care for the patient,” he said, adding that only the patient will have access to the medical history.
Recalling the company’s early days, Shakya said that it was very difficult to convince the hospital administration as they were adamant about keeping records the traditional way, using a pen and paper. Now, more people understand the need for digital records as it allows fast and convenient access.
Similarly, Medsaala.com, a website that contains detailed information regarding drugs manufactured in the country, commenced its services from April 2017.
Founded by Santosh Tiwari , a pharma student, the first of its kind website in Nepal displays information about domestic drugs produced in the country, its effects and more.
He saw a huge market potential in the medical sector and created a company to build the website. According to Tiwari, his company takes medicine information straight from the manufacturers and updates them on the
website. Currently, the website displays information of more than 1,000 medicines from 15 manufacturers.
He believes that patients can use the website to learn more about the medicine they are taking while health professionals can use the site to keep up to date with the latest medicines and drugs.
The company plans to provide health and online pharmacy services in the future, said Tiwari, adding that he was looking for investors.
Seed funding, mentorship and co-working space have become essential to emerging entrepreneurs, he said. Similarly, the governments provides little to no help in connecting international investors with start-ups, he said.
Meanwhile, Online Aushadhi has been delivering medicine straight to the doorsteps of patients from 2016. The company has been delivering medicine to patients who are unable to travel to buy them. The company also gives refill alert calls for clients who require a regular supply of medicine.
Sabi Singh, CEO at Online Aushadhi, said that the company has more than 200 patients that use the service, with more joining.
Online Aushadhi also provides medicine services to patients who are under treatment for a certain period.