Global pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has made a strategic impact investment in African health-tech startup Zuri Health, strengthening efforts to close one of the continent’s most persistent gaps: access to affordable, quality healthcare for underserved populations. The investment, made through Boehringer Ingelheim’s Social Engagement Fund, will support the deployment of two additional mobile clinics, extending essential healthcare services deeper into rural communities.
The move comes against a sobering healthcare backdrop. In Kenya alone, where Zuri Health has a strong operational footprint, 72% of the population lives in rural areas, often more than an hour away from the nearest clinic. For nearly one-third of residents, that journey exceeds two hours. Poor road infrastructure and limited public transport further compound the challenge, pushing many people to self-medicate or delay treatment altogether. With a doctor-to-patient ratio of just 19 per 100,000—far below the World Health Organization’s recommended 100—access constraints are both structural and systemic.
Cost remains another major barrier. Nine out of ten Kenyans pay for healthcare out of pocket, with households spending up to 15% of their income on medical needs. This financial strain pushes more than one million people into poverty every year, underscoring the urgency for scalable, cost-efficient healthcare delivery models.
Founded in 2020, Zuri Health has positioned itself at the intersection of digital innovation and community-based care. The company operates a hybrid model that combines telemedicine with physical healthcare services. Patients can consult licensed doctors via SMS or a mobile app—an important feature in regions with limited internet connectivity or smartphone access. Beyond consultations, Zuri Health coordinates medication delivery, laboratory testing, and home doctor visits, ensuring continuity of care rather than one-off interactions.
What differentiates Zuri Health is its ecosystem approach. By partnering with local pharmacies, laboratories, and hospitals, the platform reduces costs while expanding reach. Data analytics plays a critical role, helping the company refine services and adapt to the needs of different regions. Today, Zuri Health operates across Kenya, Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania, Cameroon, Uganda, South Africa, and Senegal.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s investment builds on an existing collaboration. In 2023, Zuri Health participated in the company’s Social Business Accelerator, piloting a continuous care program for patients with hypertension and diabetes. Insights from the program revealed a recurring problem: patients in rural areas often discontinued medication due to access challenges and lack of follow-up. In response, Zuri Health doubled down on building an end-to-end care journey, integrating screening, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing monitoring.
That approach scaled further in 2024 through a partnership under Boehringer’s Access to Healthcare program in Kenya. Mobile health camps and clinics were set up in rural communities, screening and onboarding thousands of patients into structured care programs for chronic conditions. Weekend health camps, some serving up to 5,000 people, now act as entry points into Zuri Health’s broader care ecosystem, with mobile clinics providing diagnostics and treatment through trained nurses, doctors, and laboratory technicians.
“Our mission has always been to make healthcare accessible and affordable for people living in remote areas,” said Ikechukwu Anoke, Co-Founder and CEO of Zuri Health. “This investment allows us to scale what works and reach communities that would otherwise be left behind.”
As Africa’s healthcare systems grapple with workforce shortages, rising costs, and uneven infrastructure, Zuri Health’s model offers a compelling example of how technology, partnerships, and mobile infrastructure can converge to deliver impact at scale. With backing from a global pharmaceutical leader, the startup is positioning itself as a critical player in reshaping primary healthcare access across the continent.
