Ethiopian Gynecologist's New Tele-Med Platform Might Treat Both Patients, Underpaid Doctors

Amid mounting calls for increased doctors’ salaries, a new telemedicine platform launched last week, allowing physicians to keep 80% of fees earned from video consultations. Tenadoc kicked off its operations featuring 50 medical doctors who sub-specialize in over 12 areas of expertise. The platform blends video medical consultations, digital prescriptions, medical record and hospital appointment services through a mobile application.

Gynecologist Emebet Eshetu (M.D) and her telecom engineer husband Mulugeta Eshetu began working on the platform looking to improve healthcare access in Ethiopia. The co-founders decided to launch a telemedicine platform after noticing its potential a few years back. 

In 2021, after finishing her OB-GYN residency, Emebet began offering free medical consultations through phone calls and Telegram chats. Around 6,000 people used the services within a year. Leveraging this experience, a year of development by an India-based company, customization, and testing followed before Tenadoc finally became Play Store-ready. The couple opted for local talent to finalize the payment integration functionalities. 

“By offering flexible consultation options, Tenadoc aims to transform healthcare access in a way that benefits both doctors and patients,” Mulugeta told Shega. 

He recalls how his wife was beaming with inspiration upon noticing the opportunity to provide something with an all-rounded benefit to healthcare.

“I just stepped in to help transform her idea into a digital reality,” Mulugeta says

Upon registration on Tenadoc, users are guided to a selection of doctors specializing in 25 fields ranging from pediatrics to mental health. A dashboard with the doctor’s calendar, specialty, and fees is accessible, with payment facilitated through Telebirr. While fees start from around 300 birr, the doctors are free to set prices on their terms.

Despite one Ethiopian physician serving nearly 10,000 patients, according to recent data from the Health Ministry, low wages continue to push many out of the medical industry. Junior physician unemployment has also become a pressing issue in recent years as potentially employing health facilities narrow out due to political factors.

Tenadoc operates on a revenue-sharing model, where the platform retains 20% of the consultation fee and doctors receive 80%. Additionally, the platform aims to generate revenue through its clinic and hospital appointment booking services, which offer an affordable and efficient alternative for healthcare providers.

As business operations expand, Tenadoc also plans to explore other revenue streams, such as the introduction of subscription-based consultations for users who want flexible, round-the-clock access to healthcare services.