Lessons Learnt from Initial Deployments of Rocket Health Telemedicine Service to Deliver Last Mile Medical Services in Uganda

Achieving the World Health Organization target for universal healthcare coverage requires innovations that deliver health services using models that overcome barriers to access, affordability, knowledge and the low health worker to population ratio. Innovations like telemedicine have gained traction in the delivery of healthcare globally. Rocket Health is operated by The Medical Concierge Group (TMCG) in Uganda, leveraging telemedicine to deliver last mile medical services within a private health insurance setting. Analysis of electronic medical records and key informant interviews revealed that telemedicine was used for almost the full range of out-patient care including acute medical conditions, home emergencies, and chronic care refills. Combining last mile medicine delivery and lab sample pick up increased uptake and adoption as it provided an end-to-end solution. Telemedicine models offered savings of 30-40% compared to traditional healthcare models which adds more user satisfaction and saves time for patients.