In large parts of Africa, health care remains fragmented, inefficient and largely based on paper. If you exist at all, medical documents are often scattered in health centers, which makes it difficult to continuity. Africa Smart Health, a startup based in Morocco, tries to solve this problem for the administration of personal medical data.
Africa Smart Health is one of the many Moroccan startups that are present at Gitex Africa 2025 – the largest tech festival of the continent, which returns to Marrakech from April 14th to 16th.
In an exclusive interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Hassane Tazi, CEO of Africa Smart Health says this technology accelerates medical processes. “Everything is online to save doctors time and to give them immediate access to patient files – whether they are in their office, in a clinic, in a patient at home or even on vacation.”
With the company, users can digitally store, organize and share their medical documents. Patients can register their documents online – including test results, recipes and medical history – in a structured digital file that enables quick access if necessary. It is crucial that users have full control over their data and can even decide which specialist in healthcare can check their medical records.
Data security is a central concern. According to Tazi, the platform is accredited by the National Commission to control personal data protection (CNDP). This means that the company encrypted and moderated its data to servers, which is maintained by a large international provider with strict cyber security measures. Such precautions are of crucial importance in a world in which digital health data are an increasingly valuable goal for cybercriminals. “Only patients and their doctors can access sensitive information with secure login information,” he added.
Pehrs (personal electronic health records) were widespread in developed markets, but the recording in Africa was slow. Many patients are not familiar with digital health management and are also skeptical about data protection.
However, the potential advantages are quite considerable. A study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that managed health records improve treatment, facilitate communication between doctors and patients and improve clinical results – especially in chronic illnesses. By digitizing medical documents, Africa Smart Health could help rationalize the health system in Morocco and enable patients to take more control over their well -being.
Despite this progress, growth opportunities are immense. In order for digital health in Africa to exploit its full potential, platforms such as Africa Smart Health must be supported, the patients, healthcare providers and political decision -makers. The shift to digital is not just a convenience – it is a necessity. The question is no longer whether health care should be digitized, but how quickly it can happen.
More people, larger cities and an increasing middle class mean that the demand for good health care increases. But there is a problem – too few hospitals, not enough doctors and a serious lack of means. Africa currently spends only 6.1% of its GDP for healthcare, far below the global average of 9.9%. This is a gap of 4.4 billion US dollars, and rural areas suffer the most.
But here is the good news: investors pay attention to. More and more people see Africa as a great opportunity to use digital tools to grow and improve healthcare. For this reason, the Healthcare Investment Forum is of crucial importance during the Gitex Tech. It is a place where thinkers, investors and managers come together to trigger ideas, do business and to transform plans into real changes.
During Gitex Africa 2025, visitors also have the opportunity to meet business insiders, technical tycoons and take discussions about how technology can save lives, relieve symptoms and improve access to health care. “For me, Gitex is an opportunity to combine with potential customers and partners who can help us bring our solutions even further,” concluded Tazi.
