Kenya: Start-up Uses Personal Patient Information As A Payment Option For Healthcare

Now a Kenya startup Snark Health believes it has discovered a way to allow more people to receive qualified medical care without paying for it in cash. When Adhiambo requires medical attention, she searches for a doctor using the Snark app. Snark anonymizes and sells her medical data to pharmaceutical or consumer health companies.

Adhiambo’s leg was amputated due to an accident when he was only three years old. She still suffers from phantom pains and requires medical attention. In exchange for medical attention, Adhiambo allows Snark Health to store and sell her health data, so she does not have to pay.

She states, “Because of our diversity, the majority of these insurance policies do not cover people with disabilities. We have different needs. So the first time I tried the app was when I had some phantom pains and realised that I could book an appointment and meet with a doctor. I spoke with a doctor, and he advised me on how to proceed with the phantom pain. For me, it is an accomplishment because sometimes when I need to go to the hospital for a phantom pain, I need to have money for consultation and everything. However, with the app, I only ask Dr Nick if I can see him through the app or if I can see him in his available hours and he was like yeah you can just come and we will sort that out with the app owners.