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Rocket Health, Uganda’s leading telemedicine provider that offers end-to-end healthcare experience to over 100,000 individual patients, has announced the appointment of Dr. Jacqueline Kitulu, as the chairperson of the board of directors.
Dr. Kitulu has over 15 years of executive and organisational leadership in the healthcare sector, with expertise in corporate/organisational governance, board management, and healthcare advocacy. She was recently the President of the Kenya Medical Association and is currently serving on several boards including the Emergency Plus Medical Services (Eplus Kenya), Safaricom Health Advisory Board, PATH Kenya Board and TechCare For All Global Advisory Board.
The company has also announced that Mr. Stephen Dimba Odhiambo, has been confirmed as the Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Dimba brings on board, a wealth of commercial and operational experience in fintech, business banking and education, having previously worked with Izwe Loans, Switch Link Africa, Kopo Kopo Inc, and KCB Bank among others.
In a media statement, Rocket Health said the duo, will, “working together with the team of over 200 staff at Rocket Health, implement strategies to achieve the highest levels of governance and commercial performance for Rocket Health”.
“It has always been our intention at Rocket Health to attract the most impactful professionals to advance the mission of digital healthcare for all in Africa. Dr. Kitulu and Mr. Dimba both bring depth and breadth through their expertise, experience and work ethic in various arenas to move the needle closer towards a more value-driven and sustainable healthcare system,’’ Dr. Davis Musinguzi, the Rocket Health CEO said.
The duo join the company at a time it is undergoing robust expansion. Over the last 12 months, Rocket Health has achieved significant growth, opening new service points, entering new markets and building a bigger and more efficient digital health team.
In March 2022, Rocket Health closed a USD5m Series A funding round to facilitate the expansion of its telemedicine and last-mile healthcare delivery model. Since then, the company has opened a new hub, with a clinic, pharmacy, laboratory and vaccination centre in Kyetume, Gayaza. The company has also ventured into the wholesale supply chain, opening a warehouse in Bugolobi to serve retail pharmacies, clinics, and hospitals across the country.
Commenting about her vision for the business, Dr. Kitulu said she looked forward to seeing “Rocket Health grow into a company that’s profitable and sustainable”.
“I also want to see Rocket Health be part of achieving the Universal Health Coverage goal, ensuring that people have access because this is not all about profits, this is about people. You can make lots of money but what is the final impact?”
“The final impact is that more people here in Uganda, and as Rocket Health progresses across the continent, even more people can access healthcare. I want to see Rocket Health get into the East African region, Central Africa, and West Africa, just growing, expanding across Africa, as a leading light in digital health provision. Many players have not integrated these services (doctor consultations, laboratory and pharmacy services), Rocket Health as the forerunner has the opportunity to figure out how to ensure that this model achieves world-class quality and commercial profitability, and consequently lead others into the system,’’ added Dr. Kitulu.
On his part, Mr. Dimba said he was looking to leverage his regional experience to build on Rocket Health’s trailblazing wins to cement leadership in the telemedicine space.
‘’Rocket Health has an unprecedented opportunity to make a difference right now because both Uganda and Kenya are trying to push through a scheme for universal healthcare. COVID taught us a lot of things, and one of them is that telemedicine is here to stay as part of the new normal. So, the Rocket Health business model is the new normal that is coming through, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to making this model a success in East Africa,’’ he said.
Founded in 2012, the company leverages technology to provide 4 integrated services – 24/7 teleconsultations, medicine delivery, home sample collection for laboratory diagnostic testing and physical specialist clinic consultations – with a focus on quality, convenience and affordability. Rocket Health has recently opened a wholesale business arm to deliver convenience and value chain efficiency for retail health facilities. The company has, as its mission, the improvement of healthcare for all in Africa through leveraging innovative digital health solutions.