Abakar Mahamat was studying IT engineering at ISGA (Institut Supérieur des Génies et des Affaires), he didn’t plan to build medical kiosks, he initially wanted to create an app to connect patients to doctors in Chad.
But that idea quickly ran into reality. With limited internet access and low smartphone penetration, a digital-only solution wouldn’t reach the people who needed it most. Healthcare access in Chad is already strained, with just 0.8 physicians per 10,000 people, according to the World Health Organisation.
Mahamat realised that proper diagnosis required more than video calls patients needed access to basic medical tools like blood pressure monitors and oxygen readers. That insight led to a pivot.
In 2021, he and Ahmed Kotoko launched Telemedan, a solar-powered medical kiosk designed to function like a mini clinic. The kiosks allow patients in rural areas to consult doctors via video while accessing essential diagnostic tools in one place.
Through a partnership with Chad’s Ministry of Health, doctors are integrated into the system, ensuring consultations meet national standards and are connected to the public healthcare network.
The Telemedan kiosks are built to go beyond basic video consultations, combining remote access with real-time diagnostics. Each unit is equipped with medical tools including dermatoscopes, stethoscopes, otoscopes, oximeters, and temperature sensors allowing doctors to assess patients as if they were physically present.
For maternal care, the kiosks also include foetal monitoring probes, helping bridge the gap between virtual consultations and hands-on examinations.
To ensure smooth use, especially for first-time patients, each kiosk is supported by a trained local operator who assists with setting up the devices when needed, while maintaining patient privacy during consultations.
The system also supports continuity of care. After each session, prescriptions can be printed مباشرة from the kiosk, while follow-up updates and reminders are sent via SMS making the service accessible even without smartphones.
Built for low-infrastructure environments, the kiosks run on solar power and use a mix of 4G and satellite connectivity to stay operational in even the most remote areas of Chad.
Each Telemedan kiosk takes about two weeks to assemble, Abakar Mahamat said, with imported components such as touchscreens combined through local assembly. The systems are designed to be low-maintenance, with trained operators handling minor fixes, while more complex software issues are resolved remotely.
Hardware problems, however, may still require on-site intervention, particularly in cases like damaged screens.
The platform is also beginning to integrate AI, including a tool that helps detect diabetic retinopathy from retinal scans an early step toward expanding diagnostic capabilities within the system.
Each kiosk costs about $10,000 to build, but patients are not the direct payers. Instead, Abakar Mahamat explained that the model relies on governments and partner organisations under a B2G and B2B structure, where kiosks are deployed as public health infrastructure.
Once installed, ownership typically transfers to the deploying partner. Consultations range between $2 and $15, depending on the type of care, though pricing is set by local systems rather than Telemedan itself.
The company is now exploring a shift toward operating its own network of kiosks to generate direct revenue from consultations.
Since launching in 2021, Telemedan has deployed 37 kiosks across 11 provinces in Chad, reaching an estimated 143,000 people.
For Abakar Mahamat, the long-term vision goes beyond Chad. He describes the challenge as a broader African healthcare access issue, while acknowledging that expansion will require navigating regulation, government partnerships, and adapting to different local realities.