*Fatshimetrie* recently published a fascinating report on a groundbreaking healthcare initiative in Kenya. Indeed, a Kenyan start-up called Snark Health has implemented an innovative concept to allow a greater number of people to have access to qualified medical care, without having to pay money in cash.
In *Fatshimetrie*’s moving report, we meet Belinda Adhiambo, a long-time resident of Kibera, Kenya’s largest slum, located in the heart of the capital Nairobi. Life in this poor neighborhood is difficult, and for many residents, paying a doctor could mean missing a meal.
This is where the Snark Health app comes in. When Adhiambo needs medical attention, she turns to this app to find a doctor. Thanks to Snark, their medical data is anonymized and sold to pharmaceutical or consumer health companies.
Following an accident that occurred when she was only 3 years old, Adhiambo had to have her leg amputated. She still suffers from phantom pain and requires regular medical assistance. In exchange for providing care, Adhiambo allows Snark Health to store and sell its health data, meaning it does not have to pay for consultations.
The data provided by Adhiambo allows Snark to award him credits in the form of “virtual Hippocrates coins”. For the young woman, this initiative is a real godsend, because she would not otherwise be able to afford to pay for medical care.
But Snark Health’s innovation doesn’t just benefit patients. Orthopedic doctor Nick Were says the app has helped him improve his medical practice. Through the app, patients can book appointments more easily, improving time management and profitability for doctors.
To encourage doctors to join the app, Snark Health pays them in different ways. When they see patients like Adhiambo who can’t pay, they receive a percentage of the revenue generated from the sale of their anonymized data.
Additionally, patients who agree to have their health data collected and sold can also receive a share of this revenue. Thus, Snark, the doctor and the patient share equally the money made from the sale of the data.
Edwin Lubanga, founder of Snark Health, explains that the application allows patients to have access to doctors regardless of their financial resources. Moreover, patients can even earn additional income from this medical data.
Protecting patient rights is a priority for Snark Health, which ensures compliance with protocols established by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Patients’ sensitive health information is anonymized and cannot be traced back to them.
Beyond this initiative, experts like Austin Omune, CEO of Negus Med Limited, recognize the importance of technological innovations to improve access to healthcare. Although the issue of health data confidentiality still raises debate, initiatives like Snark Health show that it is possible to reconcile access to care and data protection.
In conclusion, the story of Adhiambo and Snark Health perfectly illustrates how technology can be used in the service of health to help disadvantaged populations access quality care. A great lesson in mutual aid and innovation which opens the way to new perspectives in the field of health in Kenya.