Babylon, Rwanda’s Babyl parent firm, has led a $30 million Series B investment round into American consumer health engagement company Higi, which runs digital health kiosks across the US.
Babylon says the move will help it and Higi democratize access and affordability in healthcare by bringing together information, resources and services people need to stay healthy – including remote monitoring and virtual care.
According to Dr Ali Parsa, CEO & Founder, Babylon: “Higi’s Smart Health Stations are already located in thousands of towns across North America, and by integrating Babylon’s digital first healthcare services into Higi’s station experience, we can make the healthcare services that people need that much more accessible and affordable across North America.”
Babylon’s investment will support the expansion and enhancement of Higi’s station network and further development of its digital capabilities, assessments and programs. Higi runs 10,000+ FDA-cleared self-service Smart Health Stations which act as access points that can help people learn about health conditions, assess their risks, and receive personalized recommendations for local care resources and services.
Though there is no mention of this program being extended to Africa or Rwanda specifically where Babylon operates as Babyl, there is a high chance that Higi stations which are located at grocery, drug store, mass merchant and community centers throughout North America could later be deployed in Rwanda in the future.
Babylon has a 50-state network in the US where it aims to use to reach everyone, everywhere with digital care services to help people lead healthy lives – from educational health content and symptom checking tools, to options to book video appointments with providers. The urgency for digital-first, end-to-end healthcare – from accurate information about a health issue to actual diagnosis and remote care – is greater than ever before.
Babylon’s lead investment in Higi’s Series B is supported by additional funding from Higi’s Series A investors 7Wire Ventures, Flare Capital Partners, Jumpstart Capital, Rush University System for Health and William Wrigley Jr.
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This investment will deepen the effectiveness and expand the reach of care offered through Higi’s Smart Health Stations and digital programming.
“Our partnership with Babylon broadens our clinical capabilities and ability to support consumers with acute medical problems or those with chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, thereby allowing us to better meet the needs of payors, retailers and health systems,” said Jeff Bennett. CEO, Higi.
In Rwanda, Babyl works with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rwandan Government to provide telephone consultations, prescriptions and health information for people in Rwanda via their feature phones. Babyl’s technology means two million people – 30% of the country’s adult population – can now use their phone to book appointments, have consultations and receive prescriptions from doctors and nurses.
It runs clinical services in the UK, Rwanda and Canada and AI services in Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
