Digital tools can transform Africa’s healthcare outcomes – and save the continent billions

Early screening and treatment. Much higher survival rates. And savings in the billions of dollars. From AI-powered medicine development to teleconsultations, technology can boost Africans’ health and livelihoods while growing economic and social impact across the continent.

Access to quality healthcare is fundamental to leading a fruitful, economically active life. Yet, breast cancer is still the number one cancer killer of women in Africa – in most cases, while they’re still in their prime. Tragically, most are diagnosed too late for curative treatment.

Across the continent, non-communicable diseases – such as treatable breast cancer – cause hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths every year, devastating families and hampering economic growth.

Global projections indicate a worrying 38% rise in incidence of breast cancer and a 68% increase in deaths by 2050 without urgent intervention, with the least developed countries being the most affected, according to a new white paper by independent German economic think tank the WifOR Institute.

The Value of Investing in Innovative Medicines report outlines the economic burden from not treating the aggressive HER2-positive type of breast cancer over five years in seven African countries – South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Algeria, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco. The findings are staggering, indicating a $10.3-billion loss in productivity from 2017 to 2023.

The data also shows that, in Africa, 89% of the economic burden of HER2-positive breast cancer – representing 15% to 20% of all breast cancer cases around the world – falls on women of working age.

It goes beyond economics. Mothers hold households together and when they die that has huge ramifications for entire families and communities.

In sub-Saharan Africa, every 100 deaths among women under 50 leave around 210 children without their mothers, resulting in unstable, vulnerable households and long-term developmental challenges. 

These figures are a wake-up call, but in challenge lies scope for innovation. I believe we can – and must – turn the burden into opportunity.

Closing the gap through health-tech partnerships

Every woman diagnosed and treated early is not only more likely to survive but also able to remain active in her family and community, contributing to shared prosperity. 

Through healthcare and technology partnerships, we can leapfrog traditional healthcare models and turn the tide towards survival. 

Excitingly, this process has already started. Governments are increasingly setting strategies and allocating funding for digital health. Start-ups and companies are driving the uptake of digital health tools that could revolutionise care delivery. 

Artificial intelligence stands out as the breakthrough technology. Pharmaceutical and biotech companies such as Roche are already using AI throughout their value chains, both in the early stage of drug development and also to correctly interpret the enormous amounts of data generated to deliver effective health solutions. 

In most sub-Saharan countries, more than 20% of the population lives more than two hours from essential health services. Tech’s role in Africa’s future is about much more than connectivity or commerce. It’s about lives and well-being – AI, apps, telemedicine and other digital solutions can close the gap to bring care closer to people.

But without individuals and organisations working together, innovation can’t come to life. 

And since the journey for a patient experiencing a health crisis such as breast cancer involves many stakeholders, we must urgently identify opportunities for partners to come together and spur real action. 

This week, Roche sponsored the 28th annual Africa Tech Festival’s first-ever health track. Policymakers, innovators, professionals and experts met to thrash out actionable solutions to the continent’s biggest health challenges. 

This was part of an ambitious broader strategy to transform healthcare in Africa – investment in early intervention strategies can generate returns that far outstrip their cost. 

Research by McKinsey & Company shows that the African digital health space is already seeing unprecedented growth, with $123-million in investment secured by 55 start-ups in 2021. 

The consultancy’s analysis showed that digital health tools – such as virtual platforms for consultations; electronic health records; mobile apps to help patients self-manage their diseases; and patient e-booking platforms – could help South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria capture efficiencies of up to 15% in total healthcare expenditure by 2030. 

Widespread adoption could free up an astounding $1.9-billion to $11-billion in South Africa alone.

Speaking with one voice for a better future 

Innovation has been the backbone of progress across any major public health disease – whether it’s HIV, cancer or ophthalmology. It takes a combination of passionate people and expert innovation to make a difference.

One existing solution and real-life example of African innovation and partnership is EMPOWER, a groundbreaking digital health platform developed to improve coordinated breast and cervical cancer care in Kenya.

The initiative has grown from a single clinic in 2019 to a 76-site national platform and is integrated into Kenya’s National Cancer Registry.

Empower ensures that the entire patient journey, from screening to treatment and follow-up, is digitally powered.

The current average five-year survival rate for breast cancer across Africa is roughly five out of 10 patients that are diagnosed (48%). My vision is that this will increase to 80% within the next 5 years.

Realising this audacious goal will take commitment from stakeholders to drive action for the tens of thousands of African women who desperately need it.

There is no reason why someone in a Western society should have a better health outcome than here in Africa. The health of our people is the wealth of our nations. We must speak with one voice and act now.

Thom Renwick is general manager of Roche South Africa and the sub-region. He began his journey with the company in 2012 on its United Kingdom graduate programme, following his studies at King’s College London, Cranfield School of Management and the University of Oxford. 

During his career at Roche, he has worked in global product strategy in Basel, Switzerland, as head of ophthalmology in the UK and as chief of staff for Pharma International. He won the PharmaTimes New Marketer of the Year Award in 2015 and was featured in the publication’s Smart People series in 2021.