Digital healthcare solutions
Digital healthcare solutions
Business Model Description
Provide software solutions to facilitate remote medical consultation and telemedicine
How is this information gathered?
Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.
Disclaimer
UNDP, the Private Finance for the SDGs, and their affiliates (collectively “UNDP”) do not seek or solicit investment for programmes, projects, or opportunities described on this site (collectively “Programmes”) or any other Programmes, and nothing on this page should constitute a solicitation for investment. The actors listed on this site are not partners of UNDP, and their inclusion should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by UNDP for any relationship or investment.
The descriptions on this page are provided for informational purposes only. Only companies and enterprises that appear under the case study tab have been validated and vetted through UNDP programmes such as the Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV), Business Call to Action (BCtA), or through other UN agencies. Even then, under no circumstances should their appearance on this website be construed as an endorsement for any relationship or investment. UNDP assumes no liability for investment losses directly or indirectly resulting from recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research. Likewise, UNDP assumes no claim to investment gains directly or indirectly resulting from trading profits, investment management, or advisory fees obtained by following investment recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research.
Investment involves risk, and all investments should be made with the supervision of a professional investment manager or advisor. The materials on the website are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any investment, security, or commodity, nor shall any security be offered or sold to any person, in any jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
Country & Regions
- Jordan: Countrywide
Sector Classification
Health Care
Development need
Sustainability Development Report 2019: score of 76.3 on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), with 'Major challenges remain' and 'Major challenges remaining' subscores prevalent across indicators (1).
Policy priority
Jordan's health expenditures from public and private sector is ~ 8% of GDP (5). Jordan generates over USD 1 billion in revenue by hosting around 250,000 international patients annually (6). Through its competitive ICT, Jordan now aims to maximize benefit from innovation and creativity in health sector (8).
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
The excessive demands on the healthcare system due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pose risks to people health status and social stability (3). Many young women, youth in rural areas, and youth with disabilities suffer from inadequate health provision and poor access to health facilities (4).
Health Care Delivery
Pipeline Opportunity
Digital healthcare solutions
Provide software solutions to facilitate remote medical consultation and telemedicine
Business Case
Market Size and Environment
8.70 million internet users in the country as potential customers
There were 8.70 million internet users in the country. Internet penetration stood at 85.3% in 2019. The average Internet penetration reached 64.5% in the region (11).
Indicative Return
20% - 25%
Benchmark investors consulted in this vertical have target returns of 18-25% (10)
Investment Timeframe
Short Term (0–5 years)
Technology is readily available and medical suppliers are already providing online services
Market Risks & Scale Obstacles
Market - Highly Regulated
Impact Case
Sustainable Development Need
High demand on health care services due to aging population, the share of 65 and above rose from 4.6 in 2012 to 4.9 in 2020. (9)
Prevalence of non-communicable chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc. (10).
Limited access to primary and secondary healthcare services for poor and disabled segments, especially in rural areas and during COVID-19
Gender & Marginalisation
Lack of access to care, help in diagnosis and treatment plan
Syrian refugees face barriers to access, utilization and implementation of care, diagnosis and treatment plan during COVID19
Expected Development Outcome
Provide critical preventive, primary and secondary health care services to patients with limited access to public healthcare system
Reduce costs of access to primary healthcare, including transport costs (6)
Gender & Marginalisation
Improved access to care, help in diagnosis and treatment plan, and improved quality of life for patients.
Improved access, utilization and implementation of care, diagnosis and treatment plan during COVID19 for migrants and refugees.
Primary SDGs addressed
3.b.1 Proportion of the target population covered by all vaccines included in their national programme
3.d.1 International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness
Secondary SDGs addressed
Directly impacted stakeholders
People
Gender inequality and/or marginalization
Indirectly impacted stakeholders
Public sector
Outcome Risks
Due to its impersonal nature, online healthcare delivery may reduce accountability between doctor and patient.
Impact Classification
What
E-healthcare solution may increase hospitals' efficiency to facilitate remote and virtual communication between doctors and patients and allow keeping accurate and accessible records.
Who
All patient, especially those in remote areas, who can access healthcare services from anywhere
Risk
Electronic solutions require adaptation for the users and must be protected for data safety
Enabling Environment
Policy Environment
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Jordanian government considered the heath sector as a priority sector at the local and national levels.
The National Strategy for Health Sector in Jordan 2015- 2019.
Positive telemedicine environment in regional markets, such as Egypt
Incentive packages for businesses within The King Hussein Business Park and Irbid Development Area, focused on attracting healthcare opportunities and services, offering high quality infrastructure and a streamlined business operating environment. (12)
Financial Environment
Financial incentives: Up to 5% interest rate for IT activities soft loans from commercial banks
Fiscal incentives: ZERO % sales tax & customs on goods & services's purchase from or outside Jordan. ZERO % sales tax on IT services sale. 5% Income tax instead of 20% on IT activities.
Other incentives: Zero JD minimum non-Jordanian investment value (Instead of 50,000 dinars minimum).
Regulatory Environment
Strong legislation for the protection of industrial property patents, trademarks, copyright, and industrial designs. (Member to WTO’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement since 2000.
Laws regulating IT: Cybersecurity Law No. 16 of 2019, E-Transaction Law No.15 of 2015, Electronic crime law No. 27 of 2015
Telemedicine regulation in Jordan still requires improvement
Telemedicine regulation in large markets is conducive, such as Egypt (13)
Marketplace Participants
Private Sector
Several companies operate in digital healthcare with significant experience both in the country and the region
Government
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship
Target Locations
Jordan: Countrywide
References
- (1) Sustainable Development Report 2019.
- (2) World Bank, 2019, The 2019 Project Pipeline for Jordan.
- (3) The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Syrian refugees and Jordan's health sector. http://jordantimes.com/opinion/mujalli-mhailan/impact-covid-19-pandemic-syrian-refugees-and-jordans-health-sector
- (4) OECD, Key Issues affecting Youth in Jordan.
- (5) IMF, 2018. Public Expenditure Review and Rationalization.
- (6) Healthcare Resource Guide: Jordan. Export.gov. Accessible on https://2016.export.gov/industry/health/healthcareresourceguide/eg_main_108593.asp
- (7) Jordan Investment Commission, 2020. https://www.jic.gov.jo/en/ict/
- (8) National Growth Plan 2018 -2022. 8b) The World Bank Group (2017). Jordan Emergency Health Project. Page 9
- (9) The National Strategy for Health Sector in Jordan 2015- 2019
- (10) Dalberg interviews, 2019.
- (11) Amiri M, El-Mowafi IM, Chahien T, Yousef H, Kobeissi LH. An overview of the sexual and reproductive health status and service delivery among Syrian refugees in Jordan, nine years since the crisis: a systematic literature review. Reprod Health. 2020 Oct 28;17(1):166.