In a country where access to quality healthcare remains uneven, particularly across rural and underserved communities, technology is emerging as a powerful equaliser.

At the forefront of this shift is telecommunications group Vodacom, through its Vodacom Business unit. With cloud-based platforms and Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure, the company is enabling smarter, faster and more inclusive healthcare delivery across SA.

In partnership with digital start-up Mezzanine, Vodacom is delivering fit-for-purpose tech solutions to the places that need them most – where infrastructure is limited and traditional systems fall short.

This innovation is not just digitising old processes. It is reimagining how care is accessed, monitored and delivered.

“Our goal is to support a healthcare system where no South African is left behind, regardless of where they live,” says Peter Malebye, Managing Executive for Connected Products and Solutions at Vodacom Business.

Vodacom Business’s healthcare portfolio is currently anchored in three key tools: eLabs, SVS (Stock Visibility Solution) and AitaHealth.

From Diagnostics to Data Visibility

eLabs digitises the laboratory workflow, from sample collection to result delivery, cutting delays and improving accuracy. More than 27 000 healthcare workers across nearly 5 000 facilities are now using the system.

SVS replaces outdated paper-based stock tracking with real-time reporting across more than 3 200 public health facilities. The result: fewer stockouts, faster replenishment and better access to essential medicines, especially at last-mile facilities.

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SVS replaces outdated paper-based stock tracking with real-time reporting.
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AitaHealth a mobile-first app, enables community health workers to register households and screen individuals. More than 735 000 households and 2.1-million individuals have been registered, with 1.7-million people already screened. The platform supports large-scale, proactive public health outreach.

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AitaHealth app enables community health workers to register households and screen individuals.
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Infrastructure That Adapts to the Environment

Vodacom Business’s health platforms are powered by secure, scalable cloud infrastructure through partnerships with AWS, Microsoft Azure and Huawei Cloud. These allow for flexibility and compliance while handling vast volumes of sensitive health data.

“Our cloud partnerships allow us to scale healthcare platforms like eLabs, SVS and AitaHealth quickly and securely across different provinces, and even countries,” says Malebye. Critically, these tools also work offline. Data can sync when connectivity is restored, a crucial feature in parts of SA where signal coverage and affordability remain challenges.

“We build with inclusivity in mind,” Malebye says. “Our solutions are designed to work even in areas with poor infrastructure, which is essential to ensure true equity in healthcare delivery.”

Lessons from the Frontline – and the Pandemic

Vodacom Business’s systems have already proven their worth. At the height of the Covid-19 crisis, eLabs, SVS and AitaHealth integrated with the national Electronic Vaccine Data System, helping to deliver about 40-million vaccine doses to more than 25-million citizens.

Now, with its platforms tested and trusted, Vodacom Business is preparing to scale its reach beyond SA’s borders.

As SA works to rebuild and modernise its health system, Vodacom Business is positioning itself as more than just a connectivity provider. It is aiming to become a long-term partner in delivering affordable, practical, tech-driven healthcare – at scale.

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