Call for Proposals to develop Digital Health Solutions – South Africa

Deadline: 14 December 2023

Mobile Applications Laboratory (mLab) is seeking proposals from emerging enterprises in the start-up phase, or enterprises whose proposed solutions are not older than 5 years, and that clearly address any of the problem statements outlined.

Preference will be given to those solutions that are at an advanced development stage or close to market pilot/entry. However, novel early-stage solutions that have been clearly substantiated may also be considered. University teams are also encouraged to apply. Applicants must clearly articulate how the proposed solution will scale and achieve sustainability.

Two grant awards are available. The grant is geared towards enterprises that intend meeting one or more of the following milestones:

Demonstrate the feasibility of their solution in a real-world context
Conduct market validation or pilot their solution
Building a conceptual model, collect and develop a data-driven solution
Conduct market research or feasibility studies to demonstrate the socio-economic potential of their solutions.

Problem Statements

Digital health and data-driven solutions that address the key problems listed below are being sought:

High Loss to Follow-up Rate for HIV and TB Patients: There is a significant initial linkage and loss to follow-up rate among patients diagnosed with HIV and TB. This issue is exacerbated by patients not receiving their test results promptly, which hampers the initiation of treatment. Additionally, a substantial portion of loss to follow-up cases is attributed to hospital-diagnosed patients who are referred to PHCs for receiving their treatment and are then lost to follow-up. Innovative solutions are needed to link patients to treatment and ensure their retention in care.
Undiagnosed TB Cases and Transmission Risk: Many TB patients are unaware of their condition, leading to unintentional transmission. Key challenges include patients avoiding testing and not receiving their test results promptly, delaying treatment initiation. Addressing this issue requires innovative approaches to increase TB awareness, testing, and early diagnosis, and improved patient agency.
Loss to Follow-up Among PLHIV in the First Six Months of Treatment: Patients living with HIV (PLHIV) often experience a high rate of loss to follow-up during the first six months of treatment. The lack of data integration between different healthcare systems and facilities makes patient monitoring challenging. Innovative solutions are needed to enhance patient tracking and ensure continuity of care for PLHIV.
Supporting TB and HIV integration: More than 50% PWTB are also PLHIV. A need exists to improve TB testing among HIV patients, and ensure that patients with these comorbidities receive patient centric care, and are able to receive integrated healthcare services (not needing two separate visits to the health facility, one for each condition), to reduce opportunity costs for both the patients and the health system.
Patient Mobility and Fragmented Healthcare Records: Patients are frequently referred across various healthcare facilities, including community-based services, primary healthcare facilities, and hospitals. Moreover, patients may move across administrative boundaries, making it challenging to track and provide consistent care. Current decentralized and siloed IT systems contribute to this issue. Proposals that speak to the proposed NHI framework are sought to improve patient identification and facilitate a patient-centric approach to healthcare, ensuring continuity of care for PLHIV and patients with TB.
Digital Tools for Treatment Adherence and Health System Navigation: There is a need for digital tools and resources to support patients in accessing the health system, adhering to their treatment regimens and navigating the healthcare system effectively. These tools should empower patients to take control of their health while facilitating their interaction with the healthcare system.

Funding Information

Two awards will be made to a maximum value of R1.2 million per grantee. This will be payable in tranches and against agreed milestones.
The project must be completed, and a final report submitted, by 25 June 2024.

Required Documents to accompany the Proposal

The following documents must accompany your application:
- CIPC registration document including shareholding structure (if applicable)
- Company Profile
- Identification document (ID) for the primary contact person
- Tax Clearance Certificate
- BBBEE certificate
Preference will be given to:
- Enterprises with a BBBEE level between 1 and 4
- Youth, female and/or black-owned enterprises