Surge in digital health technologies and telemedicine, driven by the need for remote healthcare solutions

The health sector in Africa has undergone significant transformation post-pandemic, with a renewed focus on strengthening healthcare systems and improving access to medical services. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), African countries have made strides in enhancing their healthcare infrastructure, increasing vaccination rates, and expanding access to essential medicines. Globally, the health sector is witnessing a surge in digital health technologies and telemedicine, driven by the need for remote healthcare solutions.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reports that telemedicine has become a critical component of healthcare delivery, especially in remote and underserved areas.

In Mauritius, the health sector has shown robust performance in 2023. Ciel Healthcare emerged as the top performer with a turnover of Rs 4,881 million and a profit before tax (PBT) of Rs 350 million as of June 30, 2023. MSJ Ltd Unicorn followed with a turnover of Rs 1,680 million and a PBT of Rs 59 million as of December 2023. Proximed Ltd also performed well with a turnover of Rs 987 million and a PBT of Rs 227 million as of June 30, 2023.

However, some companies faced financial challenges. IBL (Life & Technologies) reported a loss before tax of Rs 91 million as of June 30, 2023, and Ajanta Pharma (Mauritius) Limited reported a loss of Rs 133 million as of December 2023.

The 2023-2024 Budget for Mauritius included several key initiatives aimed at enhancing both the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector to be leveraged upon.

For the pharmaceutical sector, investments are being made to boost local production, ensure the availability of essential medicines, and enhance regulatory frameworks to maintain high standards of quality and safety. These initiatives are expected to contribute to the overall well-being of the population and ensure a more resilient healthcare and pharmaceutical system in Mauritius.