Dr Noha Khater and Dr Rania Kadry have embarked on a mission to transform healthcare for patients with chronic diseases in the Middle East and Africa through Almouneer Medical Services.
Khater, one of the few female retinal surgeons in the world, had spent years working and seeing the devastating effects of diabetes on patients’ vision. As an ophthalmologist, she saw how the number of patients losing their vision escalated due to diabetes.
Kadry, an internal medicine specialist, had spent years treating patients with diabetes and obesity. She understood how these conditions impacted every aspect of their lives. Over time, she discovered that a major factor contributing to their struggles was the lack of easy access to health records. Patients often faced difficulties following up with their doctors and frequently lacked the digital tools necessary to manage their conditions effectively.
Building Almouneer
In 2014, they collaborated to launch Almouneer Medical Services, Egypt’s first Diabetic Eye Care Centre. Notably, it was the country’s first entirely paper-free healthcare provider, offering digital retina screening and treatment by highly trained ophthalmologists and paramedics.
As their medical practice grew, they realised that chronic disease management needed a more comprehensive, tech-driven approach. Patients require high-quality medical care and tools to track their health, stay connected with doctors, and take charge of their treatment plans.
With this vision in mind, in 2017, Almouneer evolved into a fully-fledged health tech platform—no longer just a clinic—focused on diabetes and obesity management. The duo envisioned a healthcare system where medical records were seamlessly accessible, consultations were easily booked, and treatment plans were personalised for each patient.
Introducing Dru
One of Almouneer’s significant milestones was the launch of Dru, a tool designed to empower patients in managing their health more effectively. With Dru, patients can upload their medical records, including essential data such as blood pressure and blood sugar readings, making this information accessible to healthcare providers in real time. Additionally, Dru offers teleconsultation scheduling, which facilitates remote healthcare access for patients. The platform currently serves over 120,000 patients across nine hospitals and clinics in Egypt.
In October 2023, Almouneer secured $3.6 million in seed funding, led by Global Ventures, with participation from Proparco, Digital Africa through the Bridge Fund, Wrightwood Investments, and several other international funds. This investment aims to further develop and expand the Dru platform by enhancing its technology and broadening its ecosystem of providers, which will now include doctors, health coaches, laboratories, and nutritionists.
Dr. Noha Khater and Dr. Rania Kadry are dedicated to transforming the management of chronic diseases, empowering patients with greater control over their health while utilizing technology’s capabilities.
