AfroCentric Group’s innovative Hospital at Home programme has seen an increase in utilisation, with demand increasing by up to 400% year-on-year. Launched in September 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the programme leverages digital technology to deliver hospital-level care directly into patients’ homes, significantly lowering hospital admissions, enhancing patient recovery, and reducing healthcare costs.
AfroCentric’s Hospital at Home programme marks four years of transforming healthcare delivery. By using advanced digital tools, the service provides safe, high-quality care for patients who would otherwise require hospitalisation, helping to improve outcomes while reducing the financial burden on patients and the healthcare system. The diversified healthcare group was the first to offer this service in Southern Africa.
Hospital at Home uses cutting-edge digital technology, including remote monitoring, predictive analytics, AI, and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), to treat patients in real-time. The service, offered through AfroCentric’s healthcare administration arm Medscheme, is available to medical scheme members within a 70-kilometre radius of South Africa’s six major cities: Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Gqeberha, and Johannesburg. It provides care for a range of acute conditions, including pneumonia, urinary tract infections, heart failure, COVID-19, and post-surgical recovery.
According to Dr Abongile Qamata, Alternatives to Hospitalisation Lead at Medscheme (an AfroCentric Group company), the programme has revolutionised patient care by leveraging real-time data to provide personalised, 24/7 monitoring and interventions. “Real-time monitoring and digital tools are enabling us to deliver high-level care directly to patients’ homes. This approach not only accelerates recovery times but also reduces the psychological stress and complications often associated with prolonged hospital stays,” she says. “It’s a win-win – patients heal faster in the comfort of their homes, and we reduce the strain on hospital infrastructure.”
Since its launch, Hospital at Home has gained significant momentum, driven by both patient demand and the need for more efficient healthcare solutions. Medscheme has recorded exponential growth over the last 18 months, as more patients and medical professionals embrace the benefits of remote, tech-driven care. Utilisation of the programme has skyrocketed, with an estimated 200-400% increase year-on-year since its inception, reflecting the programme’s growing impact on the healthcare landscape.
The success of the programme can be attributed to its holistic approach, combining cutting-edge technology with personalised care. Patients are monitored remotely 24/7, with real-time data being relayed to healthcare professionals, allowing them to intervene immediately if necessary. In addition, daily visits from nurses or healthcare professionals provide hands-on care such as wound dressing, administering medication, or conducting blood tests. The programme also includes allied healthcare services, such as physiotherapy, to ensure comprehensive recovery.
Hospital at Home was developed in partnership with Quro Medical, a leading digital health company, and represents a major step forward in how care is delivered outside of traditional hospital settings. The programme has proven particularly effective in treating acute conditions while reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections and complications. Patients benefit from faster recovery times and greater convenience, while healthcare systems benefit from the reduced burden on hospital resources.
Medscheme’s commitment to patient education and awareness has also played a critical role in overcoming the natural resistance many people have to non-traditional healthcare models. “The success of Hospital at Home isn’t just about the technology,” explains Dr Qamata. “Over the past 4 years, we’ve had to build trust through education and engagement, reassuring patients and their families that they can receive the same high level of care at home.”
AfroCentric’s Hospital at Home programme aligns with the group’s mission to innovate and deliver sustainable, integrated healthcare solutions that improve access to quality care. By providing a cost-effective alternative to hospitalisation, the programme has not only lowered healthcare costs for patients but also demonstrated the potential of digital health solutions to transform medical care in Southern Africa.
“We recognise the power of technology to reshape healthcare,” Dr Qamata concludes. “With the success of Hospital at Home, we’ve shown how digital innovation can deliver smarter, safer, and more accessible care. This is the future of healthcare, and we are proud to lead the way.”
The service is available to all Medscheme client schemes, as the demand for home-based care continues to grow, AfroCentric’s Hospital at Home is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare systems alike.
