In a groundbreaking move for East and Central Africa’s health-tech sector, VIEBEG Medical, a prominent medical supplies and equipment provider based in Rwanda, has announced a substantial investment from J&J Impact Ventures and Sanofi Global Health Unit Impact Fund. This recent infusion of funds is poised to drive VIEBEG’s mission to enhance healthcare accessibility in the region to new heights.
Founded in 2018 by CEO Tobias Reiter and Chief Commercial Officer Alex Musyoka, VIEBEG Medical has successfully garnered support from leading venture capital firms, totaling over $2.5 million.
VIEBEG Medical distinguishes itself by serving over 1,000 hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and healthcare providers across Rwanda, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their data-driven procurement solution, VieProcure, efficiently distributes medical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceuticals, addressing crucial supply chain challenges in the healthcare sector.
CEO Tobias Reiter expressed enthusiasm about the company’s future, citing three years of operational experience that identified significant inefficiencies in healthcare procurement decisions in East and Central Africa. He outlined the company’s vision, stating that their Health Demand Simulation Model (HDSM) aims to optimize procurement decisions by identifying current healthcare demand, comparing it to regional health service supply, and calculating the profitability of each medical equipment unit.
Pivotal time
The strategic investment comes at a pivotal time for VIEBEG Medical, aligning with its focus on building a world-class health demand simulation model (HDSM), starting in Rwanda. This expansion plan aims to make healthcare more accessible and affordable by disrupting conventional supply chain challenges.
David Higgins, Investments Director at J&J Impact Ventures, expressed excitement about supporting VIEBEG’s crucial work, emphasizing the importance of a reliable supply of essential medical products for health providers’ success. The partnership with Sanofi is seen as a significant step in strengthening health systems’ ability to provide care to vulnerable populations with unmet medical needs.
Improving healthcare accessibility and affordability
As VIEBEG Medical continues to expand its footprint, introducing artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare procurement processes, the investment is anticipated to make a substantial impact on healthcare accessibility and affordability in East and Central Africa. With their AI-driven medical procurement platform and commitment to eliminating brokers and middlemen from the value chain, VIEBEG is poised to address the challenges faced by healthcare systems in the region, ultimately improving medical outcomes for patients in under-resourced communities.