Today, the world is standing at a significant turning point in the history of the provision of healthcare. Globally, patient demands are shifting toward greater accessibility, quality and access to healthcare services. While these demands are not entirely new, they are being radically pushed forward with the arrival, and subsequent handling, of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses and healthcare providers across the world are responding to these demands with some of the most innovative technological solutions in what has become a global movement toward democratizing and digitizing healthcare.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region is distinctively and strategically positioned to leap ahead of its global, more mature, counterparts when it comes to improving patients’ overall access to better care. While developed countries underwent a gradual process, from paper-based to traditional digital health systems to finally arrive to the new digital health model, emerging markets are able and capable to avoid that additional middle step. What we are witnessing today is the humble beginning of a digital transformation in healthcare in MEA.

The industry is quickly changing landscapes, with established and new players entering the space with some of the most innovative ideas in healthtech. Governments and regulators are propelling the industry forward and enabling healthtech businesses by easing and championing these digital shifts. Helium Health, Altibbi and Vezeeta are but examples of businesses that have already spotted the exciting opportunities in the industry and are eager to bridge the growing gaps in the access, quality and cost of healthcare.

At Global Ventures, we believe in the power of market insights in dictating our investment direction. In the past, these have led us to invest in Fintech, the Future of Work and E-commerce. In a post COVID-19 world, market trends are guiding us toward investments in a number of industries, including education, transportation, and employment, among others. Significantly, today, they are also leading us toward digital health, and we are ready and excited to follow.

This report is a product of our extensive research into the space. It discusses the past, the present and the future of the industry, in emerging markets and beyond. We cover the macro-trends pushing for digitization, the impacts of COVID-19, as well as key regional market players and dynamics and a number of global and local factors impacting the industry. After reading it, we hope you share our enthusiasm about these times, and see the far-reaching potential of healthcare in emerging markets.

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