Nairobi, Kenya – M-Pesa HealthLink Wins Global Innovation Award for Rural Telemedicine App

Nairobi, Kenya — June 1, 2025 (EAT).

Nairobi-based startup M-Pesa HealthLink has been recognised on the global stage after winning an innovation award for its telemedicine platform tailored to rural health clinics. The app enables remote diagnosis and consultations, aiming to close the gap in healthcare access for underserved communities. The accolade was conferred at a major international technology conference on June 1. 

What the Platform Does

• The HealthLink app facilitates virtual medical consultations via video or audio, allowing patients in remote areas to connect with physicians without the need to travel.

• It is designed to integrate with local health facility infrastructure, so that vital signs, medical records, or other data can be relayed digitally to clinicians.

• The solution is positioned to address the resource constraints in rural Kenya, where there is a chronic shortage of health personnel, long distances to referral hospitals, and poor transport links.

Reactions & Plans

• Brian Wambugu, co-founder of M-Pesa HealthLink, expressed gratitude and optimism: he stated that the award validates the ability of Kenyan tech to solve local challenges, and announced plans to scale the service nationwide in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. 

• He also said the app’s expansion will require partnerships that strengthen integration with public health networks, ensure regulatory compliance, and secure sustainable financing.

Context & Comparisons

• While there’s scant independent reporting on M-Pesa HealthLink’s internal metrics, Kenya already has successful telemedicine projects running.

  • For instance, the M-PESA Foundation and Gertrude’s Hospital Foundation run Daktari Smart, a telemedicine initiative active in counties such as Samburu, Homabay, and Lamu. The programme has reached over 9,500 patients to date. 

  • The digital health platform M-TIBA also offers a model for health financing and digital medical services in Kenya. 

• The success of these programmes suggests strong demand, but also highlights challenges related to connectivity, infrastructure, regulatory oversight, and trust.

Risks, Questions & What We Don’t Know Yet

Because of the limited public data, several questions remain:

1. Adoption & usage metrics — how many clinics and patients are currently using HealthLink?

2. Sustainability — what is the revenue model (subscription, pay-per-consultation, government support, donor funding)?

3. Regulation / licensing — has the app been approved by Kenya’s Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board or the Ministry of Health?

4. Data privacy & security — how is sensitive patient data handled, and what safeguards exist against breaches or misuse?

5. Integration into public health systems — will HealthLink link to NHIF, county hospital systems, and existing referral chains?