Access Afya and CURAFA Team Up to Improve Primary Health Access Around the World
Access Afya, a Kenyan primary health company, is proud to announce the completed purchase of the CURAFA points of care social business franchise from the Healthcare business of Merck and Lifesciences Ltd., Kenya. This franchise model with its five integrated points of care has served over 30,000 patients since its inception in 2018.
CURAFA, launched in 2018, provides integrated point of care health facilities that combine well stocked pharmacies, primary health clinics, digital health devices, financing solutions and telemedicine to bring quality health care to underserved communities at affordable prices. Leveraging on Merck’s deep healthcare knowledge, CURAFA points of care developed standardized operating procedures, health technology and both patient and provider educational materials.
Access Afya runs tech enabled primary health clinics in Kenya. At the time of purchase, they had served over 150,000 patients. The company’s digital system, AfyaSmart, tracks numerous quality indicators to ensure consistent and effective care, every time.
The deal includes all physical and digital assets, the CURAFA trademark as well as the franchise service agreements with the local healthcare entrepreneurs. Access Afya is excited to combine the expertise of both companies to scale-up its healthcare operations and technology through the franchise network. The purchase increased its network of clinics by 50% to 15 sites across four counties.
“We are excited to expand our reach into four new counties and implement our operations and technology to build on the existing CURAFA franchise package. The clinics have already proved demand and impact in the communities that they serve,” says Melissa Menke, CEO, Access Afya “We are confident with this purchase, we will also see more patients digitally through the custom telemedicine platform.”
Merck is excited to see the CURAFA model scale under Access Afya, who is an experienced Kenyan health enterprise with supply chain, quality assurance, marketing and customer care teams built for scale.
“We are confident that Access Afya´s social business approach with its focus on patient outcomes while leveraging relevant digital health technologies is the right approach for an inclusive economy allowing healthcare access for all,” said Boris A. Hesser, VP, Head of Integrated Healthcare Services.
Access Afya is working closely with its branch and franchise clinics to flatten the curve as coronavirus cases are on the rise in Kenya. New websites for the franchise business and telehealth business will be released in the coming weeks. The franchise clinics will continue to operate under the CURAFA brand. Additional information about Access Afya is available at their website: www.accessafya.com. Enquiries can be directed to: info@accessafya.com