Uganda’s healthcare system has improved over the years, especially in maternal and child health. But many challenges remain.
Public hospitals are often overcrowded and lack enough doctors, while private healthcare is too expensive for many people. In rural areas, getting medical help can take too long, sometimes with deadly consequences.
Emergency services are poorly coordinated, with no single system linking ambulances, hospitals, and first responders. In many cases, people have to rely on informal networks or expensive private options to get help.
Rescue, an emergency response platform, is expanding to Uganda. Using technology, it connects people to a reliable network of ambulances and responders, making emergency care faster and more efficient.
The company is bringing its proven model to Uganda, aiming to make emergency care fast, reliable, and accessible.
To understand the significance of this expansion and what it means for Uganda’s healthcare system, Caitlin Dolkart, Managing Director of Rescue.co spoke to Nile Post for an in-depth into this topic.
What inspired Rescue.co to expand into Uganda at this time?
Rescue.co’s expansion into Uganda is driven by the increasing demand for reliable emergency medical services and the opportunity to replicate the success achieved in Kenya. The lack of a coordinated emergency response system in Uganda has created gaps in accessibility, response times, and quality of care. By leveraging its proven technology and network model, Rescue.co aims to address these challenges, ensuring that no call for help goes unanswered.
How does the Ugandan emergency response landscape compare to Kenya’s?
Uganda, like Kenya before Rescue.co’s intervention, has a fragmented emergency response system with limited coordination among hospitals, ambulance providers, and first responders. While Kenya has benefited from growing partnerships and a streamlined dispatch system, Uganda’s infrastructure remains largely uncoordinated, leading to longer response times and inconsistent care.
However, Uganda has an emerging healthcare sector with strong potential for digital transformation, making it an ideal market for Rescue.co’s integrated platform.
What partnerships or collaborations have been established in Uganda?
Rescue.co is collaborating with hospitals and private ambulance providers in Uganda to build an integrated emergency response ecosystem. These partnerships will help create a seamless network where emergency calls are dispatched efficiently to the nearest available responder, improving service delivery and outcomes.
Discussions are also ongoing with government stakeholders, telco companies, corporates and insurance providers to further strengthen the emergency care infrastructure to make high quality emergency response affordable for all Ugandans.
Rescue has partnered with UCMB in Uganda. UCMB is the Ugandan Catholic Mission Bureau that has a series of level 3- level 5 hospitals under its umbrella. These facilities also own ambulances.
What kind of impact do you expect to make in Uganda within the first year?
200 life saving transfers have already been completed, with an average response time of 11 minutes. In the first year, Rescue.co expects to:
- Reduce emergency response times significantly, bringing them closer to Kenya’s benchmark of as low as 2 minutes.
- Integrate a network of ambulance providers, hospitals, and first responders to create a more cohesive emergency care system.
- Increase access to emergency care, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
- Facilitate thousands of life-saving interventions through the platform.
Are there case studies or pilot program results that demonstrate the need for Rescue in Uganda?
While Rescue.co has not yet completed a full pilot in Uganda, its success in Kenya provides a strong proof of concept. In Kenya, the platform reduced response time from 162 minutes to 15 minutes and has facilitated over 40,000 successful rescues. Similar gaps in Uganda’s healthcare system indicate that such an impact is both needed and achievable.
Are there any lessons from Kenya’s operation that will apply to the Ugandan market?
Yes, key lessons from Kenya include:
- The importance of integrating private and public emergency response providers to create a seamless system.
- The need for public awareness campaigns to educate communities on how and when to seek emergency medical help.
- The value of working closely with local stakeholders, including hospitals, insurance companies, and government agencies, to drive adoption.
How are you different from the legacy emergency response solutions in Uganda?
Unlike traditional emergency response solutions that operate in silos, Rescue.co provides:
- A single emergency number that connects users to a vast network of providers.
- Real-time dispatch coordination that ensures the nearest available responder is sent to the emergency.
- A digital platform that uses data analytics to optimize response times.
- Integration of air evacuation services for critical emergencies in remote areas.
- A subscription-based model that makes emergency care more accessible and affordable. We aim to make emergency care available to all Ugandans, regardless of their income.
What innovations will you introduce to improve emergency response efficiency in Uganda?
Rescue.co will bring several innovations, including:
- Live tracking of ambulances to provide real-time ETAs to patients and hospitals.
- Tele-triage support to guide callers through first aid and determine the severity of emergencies.
- Predictive analytics to identify high-risk areas and deploy resources accordingly.
- An integrated digital platform to streamline communication between patients, responders, and hospitals.
How does Uganda fit into your broader pan-African expansion strategy?
Uganda is a critical steppingstone in Rescue.co’s vision to become Africa’s largest emergency services provider. By expanding regionally, the company is demonstrating that its model can work beyond Kenya. Uganda provides a strategic entry point into Central Africa, setting the stage for further expansion across the continent.
Do you see opportunities for Rescue in other East African countries after Uganda?
Yes, after Uganda, Rescue.co sees significant opportunities in Tanzania (where it has also launched), Rwanda, Ethiopia, and beyond. These countries have similar emergency response challenges, and the company’s scalable model can be adapted to different healthcare landscapes across the region.
What role do you see Rescue playing in shaping the future of emergency healthcare in Africa?
Rescue.co is redefining emergency healthcare in Africa by creating a technology-driven, integrated emergency response ecosystem that ensures rapid, high-quality medical assistance is available to everyone, regardless of location.
By leveraging data, AI, and strategic partnerships, the company aims to set the standard for emergency care across the continent, ultimately saving more lives and improving healthcare outcomes.
