Guardian Eye’s AVA Reimagines Telemedicine Accessibility in Africa

The Guardian Eye AVA Higo medical device collects patient data leveraging IoT sensors and capabilities, transmitting this data along with medical images and recordings to a medical professional who can then make an informed diagnosis from a distance. The device is designed to enhance telemedicine for practitioners wanting to provide care to patients in a remote setting.

 The AVA medical device is powered by IoT technology, improving access to care, reducing costs and increasing efficiencies in healthcare delivery. The offering, the first-to-market in Africa, puts a doctor at anyone’s fingertips, be it organisations, remote clinics, or rural communities. The device allows for medical practitioners to provide accurate diagnoses over a distance, supporting their patients and enhancing their ability to undertake patient care. For patients, having access to a reliable solution that’s easy to use and access is invaluable as it reduces waiting times and makes healthcare far more convenient.

The Higo device comes with five exchangeable modules that include a dermhood, stethoscope, throat exam module, otoscope and thermometer. The device takes the data from the primary healthcare examination and records it, along with medical images and recordings, and records it to a patient portal that is then accessed and reviewed by a medical professional, assisting them in making an accurate diagnosis.

“The main value of the Higo telehealth solution is that high-quality medical services can be offered to patients everywhere – the patient can enjoy the comfort and safety of remote consultations combined with the clinical quality of diagnosis provided by the physician remotely,” says Philip Choban, CEO of Telios Care, S.A. “We purchased 200 units of Higo medical devices in 2022 and conducted Higo SaaS integration with our telehealth system to provide our customers with an innovative premium product – remote GP consultations based on high-quality medical data.”

The value for the patient is also felt in the cost of the examination – depending on where they access the service, it is cost-effective to use as it is cheaper than having to travel to a doctor and pay a visitation fee, especially now when medical aid has become prohibitively expensive for most people. For practitioners, the solution allows them to provide consistent care within the growing realm of telemedicine.

“As telemedicine becomes increasingly popular and relevant in South Africa, so does the use of adjunctive devices to aid in the assessment of patients remotely,” says Dr Jessica Jane Voerman, Chief Clinical Officer – CARE FIRST, MBChB (UCT), DipPEC (CMSA), PGDipGP (FPD). “The Higo device itself is simple and easy to use with only basic training needed, making it an excellent choice for the non-medically trained user.”

Choban concludes: “With Higo we can offer our customers a new experience in remote GP consultations and we plan to scale up our operations with Higo and purchase an additional 800 units so we can scale up our services in the Romanian market.”

PULL QUOTE: “The data received from the Higo device is valuable to the consulting clinician, giving additional useful information to support the evaluation of patients. In particular, the ENT images and videos are excellent. The ability to consult with a doctor virtually and with additional clinical information, makes accessing healthcare much more convenient for patients.”  – says Dr Jessica Jane Voerman, Chief Clinical Officer – CARE FIRST, MBChB (UCT), DipPEC (CMSA), PGDipGP (FPD).