Sehat Kahani

Women in Pakistan face significant socio-cultural obstacles to employment and business ownership. According to the World Bank, the female labor participation rate stands at 21.7%, and women-owned businesses represent less than 3% of Pakistani enterprises. There is a significant funding gap for women entrepreneurs in the country. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the poverty rate in the country was 24.3% in 2015, with rural areas particularly affected. Additionally, according to the UN Women, women in Pakistan face significant gender disparities in terms of employment and economic opportunities, with only 22% of women participating in the labor force in 2020. Many community health workers in low-income communities in Pakistan do not have access to traditional financing mechanisms, such as bank loans, due to a lack of collateral or credit history. This makes it difficult for them to access the capital needed to invest in equipment, supplies, and infrastructure required to establish and operate a clinic. Furthermore, many community health workers do not have access to modern payment and financial management systems. This can lead to challenges in managing financial transactions and ensuring the proper recording of financial transactions, which can lead to issues with taxation and regulatory compliance. This lack of financial management can also make it difficult for community health workers to demonstrate the viability and profitability of their clinics to potential investors. The lack of financing and e-wallets also contributes to a lack of digital infrastructure in many low-income communities in Pakistan, which can further limit access to healthcare services. Without access to digital payment systems, it can be challenging for community health workers to establish telemedicine capabilities or other digital health solutions that can expand access to care in remote or underserved areas. The lack of access to healthcare services in return exacerbates these challenges, particularly for women and children. Globally, the lack of access to healthcare services is a significant challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. According to the WHO, around half of the world's population lacks access to essential health services, resulting in significant health and economic consequences. At the same time, 100m people in Pakistan do not have access to healthcare due to a lack of qualified doctors in their vicinity. Pakistan has 200,000 trained doctors, 60% of which are female, but 75% fail to enter formal practice because of cultural expectations around women staying home after marriage. Sehat Kahani's franchise model using micro-loans has the potential to address these challenges, not only in Pakistan but also in other communities facing similar challenges globally.

Sehat Kahani aims to address the gap in female entrepreneurship, female employment, and healthcare access by financing,  training, and empowering 50 women leaders in low-income communities to own and run E-Health Clinics via a franchise model. Sehat Kahani will leverage its existing partnership with financing agencies such as Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited, AKHUWAT, and ASA Pakistan to provide low-cost loan financing to these women entrepreneurs to fund the initial setup costs of the clinics. Nurses, community health workers, and midwives (the clinic owners) will receive a micro-loan at a 5% annual interest rate to be repaid in monthly installments. The loan will fund clinic setup costs, including clinical and technical equipment. Sehat Kahani will verify the eligibility of the loan candidates. Locations will be selected to ensure technical and business viability so that the clinics can generate sufficient income to benefit these women entrepreneurs and repay the loans over time. Sehat Kahani will also offer basic medical education and business training programs to these women so that they are equipped to serve the needs of patients and run their businesses effectively. The clinics will also be equipped with digital payment systems and e-wallets, enabling community health workers to manage financial transactions and ensure proper recording of financial data. This financial infrastructure ensures that transactions are transparent and enables community health workers to establish telemedicine capabilities and other digital health solutions that can expand access to care in remote or underserved areas. Sehat Kahani's solution also includes the provision of e-tools and equipment to community health workers through micro-loans. As part of the initial setup costs for the E-Health Clinics, the micro-loans provided by Sehat Kahani and its partnering financing agencies enable community health workers to purchase necessary equipment such as internet connectivity, telemedicine capabilities, basic EMR systems, and basic primary care tests and ultrasound equipment. These e-tools and equipment are essential for community health workers to operate their clinics and provide quality healthcare services to their communities. By providing access to these e-tools and equipment, Sehat Kahani empowers community health workers to leverage technology and digital health solutions to improve health outcomes in their communities.  The provision of micro-loans also enables community health workers to invest in their businesses and purchase additional e-tools and equipment as they grow and expand their operations. This helps to ensure the sustainability and scalability of the E-Health Clinics and the broader network of clinics established through Sehat Kahani's franchise model. As these loans are repaid, the recouped capital will be used to fund additional clinics. Repayments will be deducted from the monthly incentive earned by the healthcare provider with the loan to be repaid by the end of 3 years. The repaid principal and interest will be recycled into expanding the scale of the franchise program.

On the supply end our beneficiaries are community-based health workers that are not being utilized to their full potential due to social pressures or inequality. Through our proposed innovation, we train underutilized human health resources to build their capacity for the provision of essential quality healthcare. By franchising e-clinics to community health workers, Sehat Kahani is empowering women entrepreneurs to provide essential healthcare services in their communities. The e-clinics are equipped with internet connectivity, telemedicine capabilities, basic EMR systems, primary care tests, and ultrasound equipment. This enables the clinic owners to take patient medical histories, assist patients in using the telemedicine system to do video consultations with Sehat Kahani's panel of doctors and perform primary care tests and ultrasound scans with remote assistance from Sehat Kahani's doctors. By providing micro-loans to these women entrepreneurs, Sehat Kahani is enabling them to set up their own businesses and earn a livelihood while providing an essential service to their communities. The loans also enable them to purchase necessary e-tools and equipment to run their clinics effectively, including smartphones, laptops, and other medical equipment. Through its training programs, Sehat Kahani equips these women with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality healthcare services and run their businesses effectively. This includes basic medical education and business training programs. Sehat Kahani's solution is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of the underserved communities it serves. 

By providing access to essential healthcare services, the solution can reduce morbidity and mortality rates, improve quality of life, and reduce the economic burden of illness on families and communities. The Sehat Kahani solution targets women in low-income communities who face barriers to accessing quality healthcare services. These women are typically underserved and marginalized due to their gender, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. At the demand end, our target beneficiaries are children <5 years of age, young adolescents (10-16), and young women (16-45) living in marginalized communities with access to no or poor health services. Furthermore, gender disparities are prevalent in healthcare service utilization, with women and girls facing particular challenges due to social norms and constraints. Through our innovation, Sehat Kahani provides a service that will allow our users to avail of affordable remote health services within their homes or in their communities in under 60 seconds. Our proposed innovation bridges the privacy and confidentiality gap by allowing users to connect with specialists virtually in the comfort of their homes. Additionally, by empowering women entrepreneurs, the solution can help reduce gender inequality and improve women's economic participation and empowerment. 

Sehat Kahani has been one of the pioneers in the telemedicine industry with a successful proof of concept. Since our 6 years in the industry, Sehat Kahani houses the largest network of 49 E-Clinics and more than 7000 health professionals trained to deliver remote health services via telemedicine. In addition, Sehat Kahani also has tapped into the highest corporate share with its mobile application currently available across 600  biggest industry magnets, Finca, and banks and now aims to expand its services as well as geographical spread across Pakistan. Sehat Kahani with a multi-population approach working on creating healthcare accessibility with the following distinctive key features: (1) The only cost-effective and sustainable telemedicine company focused on enabling access to qualified doctors, specialists, and mental well-being experts in far-flung communities using telemedicine technology while upgrading and utilizing existing infrastructure. (2) We have an extensive public partnership portfolio for our E-Clinic expansion with a reach of more than 600 corporations as our consumer base for our mobile application. (3) We have the first movers' advantage of being in the field for more than 6 years, piloting and iterating revenue streams, and treating actual paying customers. (4) The only organization which is striving to provide access to specialties in communities that were difficult for accessibility. (5) Only platform that houses more than 7500 healthcare professionals to deliver quality affordable remote telemedicine services. (6) Sehat Kahani is proud to be operated by one of the few female founders that have been recognized on a national and international scale for their social impact and health accessibility. (7) Sehat Kahani's team is representative of the communities it serves, and the company actively engages with these communities to understand their needs. The design and implementation of the solution are meaningfully guided by the communities' input, ideas, and agendas. The company works with local partners to ensure that it is providing the most relevant and effective healthcare services to these communities.

Sehat Kahani is a health tech impact initiative that aims to democratize health care with a special focus on improvised communities using a network of qualified doctors with a focus on re-integrating female doctors into the medical workforce using telemedicine. By successfully executing our solution across 49 E- Clinics and mobile health applications we have successfully provided more than 2 million consultations with a reach of 3.2 million beneficiaries cumulatively and a portfolio of more than 650 corporations and organizations utilizing our solution across Pakistan

Sehat Kahani is applying to Solve's Financial Inclusion Challenge to address the specific financial and market barriers that it faces in scaling its intermediary-assisted telemedicine model in Pakistan. The Financial Inclusion Challenge seeks innovative solutions that can improve financial access and outcomes for underserved populations, and Sehat Kahani's model of utilizing remote solutions to deliver primary healthcare services to low-income communities in Pakistan aligns well with this challenge. Through this challenge, we want to empower and create employment opportunities for the female health workforce to utilize remote solutions in order to improve health outcomes in Pakistan. We feel that the challenge can help us emerge as better leaders for our company as well as support our collective vision of strengthening primary healthcare in Pakistan by integrating e-health and m-health solutions. One of the primary challenges we face is securing funding to expand our program to more women community health workers and underserved communities. Solve's network of partners and resources can help us connect with potential donors, investors, and other supporters who can provide the necessary funding to expand our program and reach more women entrepreneurs and patients. Through this process, we want to reflect on our experiences and share our knowledge to cross-learn and grow. In addition, receiving mentorship from experts will enable us to expand our solution sustainably while improving the utilization uptake of our beneficiaries. The resources from the prize will also enable us to integrate necessary technological upgrades such as AI integration and machine learning that is extremely pivotal for us to understand and analyze especially the healthcare needs and resource allocation of our users. The funds will be used to expand our operations while continuing to build the skills and capacity of health practitioners to utilize and integrate our services and products into their practices. The company's use of telemedicine technology to connect patients with doctors and specialists demonstrates its commitment to innovation and its potential to make a significant impact in improving healthcare access and outcomes. Furthermore, Sehat Kahani's experience and success in providing healthcare services to underserved populations make it a strong candidate for the challenge. The company has already established partnerships with a range of stakeholders demonstrating its ability to collaborate effectively and build meaningful partnerships to achieve its mission. Sehat Kahani however operates in a challenging regulatory environment, with complex legal and cultural barriers that can make it difficult to expand its operations and reach more communities. By partnering with legal and regulatory experts through the MIT Solve, Sehat Kahani hopes to navigate these barriers and develop solutions that are culturally appropriate and compliant with local regulations. Additionally, Sehat Kahani is also seeking to expand its operations beyond Pakistan and into other markets but faces a range of market barriers, including limited access to capital, competition from established players, and a lack of awareness and trust among potential customers. Through partnerships with investors, business experts, and other stakeholders, Sehat Kahani hopes to overcome these market barriers and develop effective strategies for scaling its operations and reaching new markets.

Sehat Kahani's solution is innovative in several ways. Firstly, our model of intermediary-assisted telemedicine allows us to connect low-income communities in Pakistan with qualified doctors and specialists, addressing the access gap in medical care in a scalable and cost-effective way. By leveraging technology, we are able to provide high-quality healthcare services to underserved populations who may otherwise not have access to medical care. Secondly, Sehat Kahani's model emphasizes the importance of female empowerment and creating employment opportunities for women in the healthcare sector. By employing female community health workers as intermediaries, we are able to provide jobs and training opportunities for women, who are often underrepresented in the healthcare workforce. This not only addresses gender inequality but also has broader positive impacts on the health and well-being of communities by improving access to healthcare services. Thirdly, our focus on integrating e-health and m-health solutions into primary healthcare strengthens the overall healthcare system in Pakistan. By working with local healthcare providers and institutions, we are able to build capacity and improve healthcare outcomes in a sustainable way. Our solution also has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space. By demonstrating the effectiveness of intermediary-assisted telemedicine in addressing the access gap in medical care, we hope to inspire other healthcare providers and innovators to explore similar approaches in other countries and contexts.  Furthermore, our model has the potential to change the market by creating new opportunities for telemedicine and e-health providers to collaborate with local healthcare providers and institutions. By working together, we can build a stronger and more integrated healthcare system that prioritizes the needs of underserved populations and addresses the unique challenges of healthcare delivery in low-income communities.

Sehat Kahani's approach to healthcare also promotes the use of technology to improve healthcare outcomes. Sehat Kahani uses secure technology that utilizes web standards and features HIPAA-compliant privacy controls and sharing preferences for each user while collecting and integrating data. We are data aggregators striving to streamline true health data in relation to primary health outcomes that have been underreported in Pakistan. Through the use of an electronic medical record system, Sehat Kahani's platform allows healthcare professionals to manage patient data efficiently and make well-informed decisions regarding patient care. Furthermore, Sehat Kahani's approach is designed to be sustainable and scalable, which means that it can be replicated in different regions, and is not reliant on external funding. By creating a revenue-sharing model, Sehat Kahani ensures that health workers are incentivized to provide quality care, and that the platform can be self-sustaining in the long run. This approach is significant because it ensures that healthcare services are available to underserved communities in a sustainable manner.

For the proposed project our impact goals for one year from now include:

1. Establish and launch at least 20 E-Health Clinics owned and operated by women entrepreneurs in low-income communities.

2. Train at least 50 community health workers, nurses, and midwives in basic medical education and business management.

3. Provide micro-loans to finance the setup of these clinics and purchase necessary equipment.

4. Provide telemedicine and other digital health solutions to expand access to care in remote or underserved areas.

5. Generate sufficient income to benefit these women entrepreneurs and repay the loans over time with the provision of at least 50,000 consultations through our intermediary-assisted telemedicine platform, increasing access to quality healthcare in underserved communities cumulatively during the project tenure 

6. Creation of E-pharmacy with smart outlets and closet pharmacies for the communities

7. Technical upgrations including integration of automated decision support systems for better diagnostic accuracy and effectiveness 

Five years from now:

1. Regional Expansion: Sehat Kahani is working with partners and investors to replicate and expand Sehat Kahani telehealth platforms in regions including South Asia, Africa and Middle East

2. A pool of healthcare professionals: Sehat kahani envisions training and recruiting 50,000 of HCPs, health providers, and mobilizers over the following three years after receiving this financial opportunity, with the goal of generating independent micro-entrepreneurs or consultants on the Sehat Kahani Panel.

3. Expand clinical module: Expansion of our Clinical Vertical with Public-Private partnerships reaching an estimated 150 E-HEalth centers in the next 5 years.  

4. Expand Retail Application to around 18 Million Users within Pakistan. 

5. Expand Corporate solutions to around 13 million users outside Pakistan while working with over 10000 corporations.

6. Include AI and machine learning to address both curative as well as preventative health. 

7. Achieve a patient satisfaction rate of at least 90%, indicating a sustained positive impact on patient outcomes and experience.

8. Partner with government agencies and international organizations to advocate for the integration of telemedicine into national healthcare systems, creating systemic change and improving health equity.

The above goals will be achieved through the following:

• Continue to expand our telemedicine platform and develop new features to enhance the patient experience and increase access to healthcare.

• Invest in training and education programs for nurses, healthcare providers, and patients to ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to use telemedicine effectively.

• Collaborate with healthcare facilities and community organizations to raise awareness of telemedicine and its benefits in underserved communities.

• Conduct an extensive digital and non-digital marketing campaign. While the digital marketing campaign will be executed in-house by our team using social media channels, SEO optimization, micro-moment video, and digital ads, the non-digital offline marketing campaign will be outsourced to a third-party PR/Advertising/Event Management firm that creates outreach using Print, TV, Radio, OOH, BTL activations, etc.

• Develop partnerships with government agencies and international organizations to advocate for the integration of telemedicine into national healthcare systems.

• Develop innovative funding models and partnerships with private sector organizations to ensure the sustainability of our telemedicine platform and impact.

Sehat Kahani is committed to measuring and tracking progress toward our impact goals to ensure that we are delivering effective, evidence-based interventions that are making a tangible difference in the lives of our beneficiaries. We believe that using a combination of quantitative and qualitative indicators is critical to measuring the effectiveness and impact of our work.

Our impact goals are aligned with several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality, and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Below are some specific indicators that we use to measure our progress toward these goals:

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
Number of consultations provided through our telemedicine platform
Number of virtual appointments for primary health services with a focus on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and mental health services for displaced communities
Number of patients who report improved health outcomes as a result of our services
Number of patients who report improved access to healthcare as a result of our services

SDG 5: Gender Equality
The proportion of female doctors and healthcare workers trained and employed through our platform
Number of virtual appointments for SRH services provided to young women and adolescent girls
Number of female beneficiaries who report improved health outcomes as a result of our services
Number of female healthcare workers who report improved job satisfaction and economic empowerment as a result of our platform

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Number of healthcare workers trained and employed through our platform
Proportion of income generated by female healthcare workers in their communities through our revenue-sharing model
Number of healthcare workers who report improved job satisfaction and income as a result of our platform
Number of patients who report improved access to affordable healthcare services as a result of our platform

In addition to these indicators, we also collect and analyze qualitative data through patient surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews with our beneficiaries, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders. This allows us to better understand the impact of our services on their lives and to identify areas for improvement. We also track our progress toward our revenue targets, including revenue generated through our telemedicine platform, grants, and other sources. This allows us to ensure the sustainability of our business model and to expand our reach to more underserved communities.

Sehat Kahani's theory of change is based on the notion that empowering women as healthcare entrepreneurs not only addresses the immediate problem of limited healthcare access but also has far-reaching social and economic benefits. By combining financial support, training, and digital solutions, Sehat Kahani aims to create a sustainable and scalable model that can transform healthcare delivery and women's empowerment in Pakistan and other communities facing similar challenges globally. Our proposed activities include: (1) Engage with and identify 50 women leaders in low-income communities., (2)Form partnerships with three financing agencies (e.g., Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited, AKHUWAT, and ASA Pakistan) to provide micro-loans., (3)Verify loan candidates and select locations: Verify the eligibility of loan candidates and select 50 locations for clinic setup. (4) Conduct basic medical education and business training programs for 50 clinic owners., (5) Equip clinics with digital payment systems: Install digital payment systems and e-wallets in 50 clinics., (6) Offer ongoing support and mentorship: Provide continuous support and mentorship to the 50 clinic owners, (7) Monitor and evaluate performance: Establish a monitoring and evaluation system to assess the performance of the 50 clinics and (8) Use the repaid principal and interest to fund additional clinics.

• Immediate Outputs:

1. Identification and selection of women leaders: Sehat Kahani identifies women in low-income communities who have the potential and passion to become healthcare entrepreneurs

2. Provision of micro-loans: Sehat Kahani provides low-cost micro-loans to clinic owners, enabling them to finance the initial setup costs of their E-Health Clinics

3. Training and education: Clinic owners receive comprehensive training and education in medical skills, healthcare management, and business operations

4. Equipping clinics with e-tools and equipment: The micro-loans provided enable clinic owners to purchase essential e-tools and equipment for providing quality healthcare services

Short-Term Outcomes:

1. Increased healthcare access: The establishment of E-Health Clinics brings healthcare services closer to low-income communities, reducing barriers to access and increasing the availability of primary healthcare.

2. Enhanced healthcare quality: Clinic owners, equipped with medical training and e-tools, provide improved healthcare services, accurate diagnoses, and better treatment options, leading to enhanced health outcomes for patients.

3. Economic empowerment: Women entrepreneurs gain economic independence and income generation opportunities through clinic ownership, contributing to poverty reduction and women's empowerment.

4. Business viability: Clinic owners acquire business management skills, enabling them to run their clinics effectively, and ensuring the sustainability and profitability of their ventures.

Long-Term Outcomes:

1. Improved health outcomes: Accessible and quality healthcare services lead to improved health outcomes in the communities served, reducing morbidity and mortality rates, especially among women and children.

2. Gender equality and women's empowerment: By enabling women to become healthcare entrepreneurs, Sehat Kahani addresses gender disparities in employment and entrepreneurship, promoting gender equality and empowering women in society.

3. Community development: The establishment of E-Health Clinics creates employment opportunities, stimulates economic growth, and enhances the overall development of low-income communities.

4. Scalability and replication: As micro-loans are repaid, the capital is recycled to fund additional clinics, expanding the network of E-Health Clinics and increasing their impact on healthcare access and entrepreneurship.

The core technology that powers Sehat Kahani is a telemedicine platform that allows for remote consultations between patients and doctors. Sehat Kahani's platform is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and utilizes HIPPA compliance cloud computing technology to store and manage data securely. The platform uses a web-based application that is accessible via a computer or mobile device with an internet connection. Patients can access the platform from the comfort of their homes or in community health centers, and connect with a network of qualified and trained female doctors and community health workers. The telemedicine platform allows for real-time video consultations between patients and doctors, enabling doctors to remotely diagnose and treat patients. The platform also incorporates an electronic medical record system, which stores patient information securely and allows for efficient data management. Our technological features include `but are not limited to (a) Audio/Video Calling between Patient and Physician, (b) Built-in Chat messaging between Patient and Physician, (c) Consult physicians via instant consultation and appointment booking, (d) Centralized Electronic Medical Record System, (e)  In-App health messaging, (f) Self-assessment Chatbot Service, (g) Sign Up via email and social logins and (h) OTP login via email and contact number. 

Provision of Digital Tools:

• E-tools and equipment: Sehat Kahani leverages digital tools and equipment such as internet connectivity, telemedicine capabilities, basic electronic medical record (EMR) systems, and primary care tests and ultrasound equipment. These tools enable community health workers to provide remote healthcare services, access patient information, and perform basic medical procedures efficiently.

• Digital payment systems and e-wallets: Sehat Kahani equips its clinics with digital payment systems and e-wallets, allowing community health workers to manage financial transactions and ensure transparent recording of financial data. This technology facilitates secure and convenient payment processes, while also enabling telemedicine capabilities and other digital health solutions.

Following are a few of our technical components of the mobile health application for the provision of telehealth services.

1. User Journey: The app provides Signup and log-in via email, social, and OTP methods, and the user is shown a list of available doctors as soon as logged into the app. Users can book an appointment with a doctor from the list or can start an instant consultation by clicking on the “Consult Now” button.  Once requested for a consultation, a call is generated to the chosen health professional and the consultation session starts as soon as the doctor accepts the request. If the doctor is busy, or a request is missed, it is redirected/re-routed to the next available and online doctor within a minute. 

2. Quality of chat session during the session: Once the consultation session starts, a chat session between the doctor and the patient is created where they can share chat messages along with any reports shared in the form of images or PDF files. A doctor can view previous consultation history, and the patient’s medical history during the chat session.

3. Chat messages and Notifications - Technical Details: PubNub and Firebase are used on Web and Android platforms for sending chat messages and notifications; whereas APNS (Apple Push Notification Service) is used for the iOS version of the app.  

4. Voice and Video Call: If the doctor or patient feels the case can be discussed over an audio or video call, any party can start an audio/video session. OpenTok (Vonage) is used for audio/Video calls across all platforms. By default, Vonage uses 90 kbps of bandwidth during a call which is sufficient for most calls.

5. Software Third Party Services Standardization: MS Azure Database for MySql is used to store the data. Vonage (previously OpenTok) is used to integrate Audio Video calling into the application. It allows end-to-end client-side encryption to make communication secure and robust. PubNub SDK is integrated into the app to enable chat messaging and push notifications. PubNub allows integration of its features through secure messaging channels so each user has separate dedicated channels saved for communication.

6. System Security & Server Standardization: Sehat Kahani's expertise in telehealth technology also extends to other technical standards and requirements, such as data security and privacy, bandwidth requirements, and hardware and software compatibility. Applications deployed in MS Azure Cloud are Dockerized apps to make the services secure for communications. The backend APIs, frontend servers, and databases are hosted in MS Azure Cloud with multi-level security checks applied. Azure Cloud secures data by applying at-rest and end-to-end encryption using HMAC-SHA1 as well. The audio and video calls are encrypted using the AES cipher algorithm(128-bit) on Vonage. Developers’ access to services and data is controlled through secure VPN and IP restriction. 

7. Regarding bandwidth requirements, Sehat Kahani's platform has been designed to be low-bandwidth, making it suitable for use in low-resource settings where internet connectivity may be limited. The platform is also designed to be compatible with a wide range of hardware and software platforms, including mobile devices, desktop computers, and a variety of operating systems.

In addition, the artificial intelligence component of the platform helps in the diagnosis of patients and enables healthcare providers to provide tailored advice to their patients. The platform's AI system helps in identifying the patient's symptoms, and then the platform recommends potential conditions that could be causing the symptoms. The platform utilizes machine learning algorithms to provide personalized health recommendations to patients based on their health history, symptoms, and other relevant data. The platform also incorporates SMS technology for appointment reminders, which improves service utilization and helps to reduce the number of missed appointments. Additionally, the platform has a 24/7 helpline service, which provides patients with access to medical advice and support outside of regular clinic hours. The Sehat Kahani telemedicine platform is designed to be user-friendly, accessible, and affordable, with a focus on providing high-quality healthcare to underserved communities. The platform is powered by a team of trained female doctors and community health workers, who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide quality healthcare services remotely.

To ensure that we incorporate the perspective of our target population and encourage women leadership; women occupy roles in every level of Sehat Kahani resulting in 90% of senior leadership and 75% of the core team comprising women. While designing or expanding the scope of our implementation design, we assure that women providers, patients, and advocates participate in the design and implementation of telemedicine tools. We also aspire to utilize new data-gathering tools and assure gender parity in the collection. We realize that when girls and women have better access to information, they also have better health outcomes. Through extensive advocacy and awareness building in the community, we are creating early adopters for telemedicine innovation and empowering women to realize their right to access physical and mental health services. On the other hand, we are collaborating with women experts in technology and healthcare to design, implement, and lead programs and services that best meet the needs of our end users. We are actively creating training programs that address the problem of unconscious gender bias for healthcare providers and its consequences. We are also conducting research focused on women’s health outcomes and raising awareness of the gap. While creating partnership linkages, we ensure that we are working with companies, and academic and intergovernmental institutions that use their resources and influence to accelerate women’s leadership and participation in health tech. By creating the right ecosystem, networks, and incentives, we can begin to unpick the entrenched biases which have created the inequities and start to close the gaps in health access for women around the world. When we implement telemedicine services in the targeted communities we conduct pilot testing and focused group discussions to gather evidence. Direct communication with our potential beneficiaries enables us to identify pain points and breakdowns in the telehealth video visit experience for patients, providers, and staff. We also learn about patient, provider, and staff perceptions of telehealth, including what makes users more or less likely to continue using telehealth. Collaborating with community partners and women influencers in the communities helps us to identify the barriers they face in accessing telemedicine services within their vicinity. Using insights from this feedback helps us to design and implement improvements in telehealth visits. We generate custom reports that comprise end-user requirements and formal assessments across technical, clinical, usability, and cost domains of all vertices of our solution. We periodically conduct user validation for our human health resources by engaging them in ongoing feedback sessions regarding any modification of our technological solution to improve its interface or effectiveness. We also conduct in-depth interviews to understand any challenges they might face while using our solution. Having diverse teams - in terms of gender, ethnicity, training, and background will in turn improve the impartiality of the data upon which care decisions are based resulting in increased uptake of our services by our end-users thereby contributing to the success of achieving the desired vision of our organization.

Service A: E-health clinics: Focused on low-income communities where nurse intermediaries connect patients to online doctors using telemedicine software.

Service B: E-health mobile application: A mobile application platform that provides quality health coverage in the absence of alternatives. Through this application, users obtain quick consultations with general & specialist doctors along with keeping track of their health history & obtaining digital prescriptions remotely.

• B2B Application: Corporates/Insurance take SehatKahani services for their employees & dependents on an annual retainer basis for consultations, counseling, diagnostics,& medicine delivery.The most winning product will be a means for enabling scale-up in other geographies which benefits Sehat Kahani by an instant 2 to 10-fold increase in the Per Consultation Price. 

  • Service B-a-1: E-Pharmacy: An online portal integrated with the Sehat Kahani telemedicine system that offers accredited Rx and OTC products across Pakistan for corp beneficiaries. 

  • Service B-a-2: Claim Management: SehatKahani provides access to online telehealth services to expedite access to medical care and facilitate the claims process.

• B2C Application: Individual consumers can avail SehatKahani App for consultations, diagnostics,& medicine delivery.

  • Service B-b-1: Intermediary Assisted Model: Sehat Kahani will expand its hybrid telemedicine model that relies on both remote clinical consultation by doctors and in-person accompaniment by LHWs. Under the DTC, Sehat Kahani aims to expand this service whereby a network of 100 lady health workers will be trained across the country to deliver Sehat Kahani telemedicine solutions using their phones during their door-to-door visits. For women needing extensive services, these LHWs can refer to already established Sehat Kahani E-Health centers or to the nearest healthcare facility and/or pharmacies, and follow up after the telehealth service.

  • Service B-b-2: Home Healthcare: Sehat Kahani provides access to online telehealth services coupled with home healthcare services through a Network of Nurses, Physiotherapists, and speech therapists catering to Critical care, geriatric care, and palliative care at home for patients who cannot be managed in a hospital setting.

• B2B2C Application: Sehat Kahani is integrated within third-party applications e.g. banking apps such as HBL providing consultations to their consumers.

Service C: 24/7 Helpline: Sehat Kahani also offers a 24/7 helpline for beneficiaries that serves as a tele-triage service to be utilized by beneficiaries to access health-related information & can also provide information regarding available doctors and specialists based on their existing symptoms.

Sehat Kahani has a unique and sustainable revenue model that is based on a cost-sharing approach. The revenue model is designed to enable the company to provide affordable and accessible healthcare services to underserved communities, while also ensuring that the company remains financially sustainable. Under this model, Sehat Kahani charges a nominal fee for each consultation that is provided through its platform. The fee is shared between Sehat Kahani and the healthcare provider who provides the consultation. Sehat Kahani retains a small percentage of the fee, while the healthcare provider receives the majority of the fee. This incentivizes healthcare providers to use the Sehat Kahani platform and provides them with a sustainable source of income. Sehat Kahani also generates revenue by providing healthcare services to corporate clients. The company offers a range of healthcare services to corporate clients, including telemedicine consultations, health check-ups, and wellness programs. Sehat Kahani charges a fee for these services, which is negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Another source of revenue for Sehat Kahani is through partnerships with NGOs and government agencies. The company works closely with these organizations to provide healthcare services to underserved communities. Sehat Kahani charges a fee for these services, which is typically based on the number of consultations provided. Sehat Kahani also seeks grant funding to support its operations and expansion efforts. Sehat Kahani actively applies for grants from a range of sources, including government agencies, foundations, and international organizations. These grants support various aspects of the organization's work, such as research and development, training and capacity-building, and community outreach and engagement. For the proposed challenge, Sehat Kahani's primary revenue source is the repayment of micro-loans provided to clinic owners. As clinic owners generate income through their healthcare services, a portion of their monthly revenue is allocated toward repaying the loan principal and interest. These repayments contribute to the financial sustainability of Sehat Kahani by recycling the capital to fund the establishment of additional clinics. Sehat Kahani actively seeks partnerships and grants from organizations, philanthropic foundations, and government agencies that align with its mission. These partnerships and grants provide additional funding to support the organization's activities and cover operational expenses. Sehat Kahani is also exploring the potential for attracting social impact investment to scale its operations and expand the franchise model. Social impact investors who share the organization's vision of empowering women entrepreneurs and improving healthcare access may provide capital in exchange for a return on investment aligned with social impact goals.

Sehat Kahani has previously raised a seed round of $500,000 in 2018 and a Pre-Series A round of 1.2 million $ in 2021.In these rounds, Sehat Kahani has been supported by institutional investors and Development Sector  Organizations such as the Islamic Development Bank, Mentors fund, Impact Innovation Exchange, The Ventures, USAID, DFID, GSMA funds, Ten Pearls Ventures, KASB, Din Group, and Elahi group to name a few. Since its pre-series A round close, Sehat Kahani has grown 250% with 30% highest Month on Month growth trends achieved. Owing to our rapid growth trajectory across our three unique service lines, Sehat Kahani is currently raising its Series A funding round of 3 million.  $.500,000 is being given by a VC fund in Singapore headed by Dr. Raziuddin.500,000 is being given by existing shareholders of Sehat Kahani namely 10 pearl ventures, IIX, and KASB.600,000$ are being contributed by Grand Challenges Canada Transition to Scale funds. In totality,1.6 Million $ out of the 3M$ have been closed to date. We are looking to close the round in November 2022. We estimate that approx 2.5 Million Dollars out of 3 million $ of our round with foreign direct investment comes from investors based in the US and Singapore. The current round of funding will help us invest in Technology(12%), Marketing(25%), HR(18%), Infrastructure(27%) and regional expansion(18%). At the end of 18 months, this round will help us grow our GTV by 6X, Our users by 5X, and our consultations by 7X. In the next 5 years, Sehat Kahani will be able to provide 24 million consultations to 15 million plus users and create a GTV of 277 million $ along with reaching sustainability by 2024.