Myltura: Redefining Healthcare
- a n
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 23
Introduction
Myltura is a Nigerian digital health startup founded in 2022 by Opeyemi Arogundade, Shina Arogundade, and Adeoluwa Ogunye. The company was born out of the urgent need to address Nigeria’s health system challenges: limited access to preventive care, high out-of-pocket costs, poor record-keeping, and fragmented service delivery.
Through a hybrid model combining telemedicine, at-home diagnostic testing, pharmacy access, and AI-driven health insights, Myltura seeks to bring affordable and accessible healthcare to Nigerians “anytime, anywhere.” It positions itself as both a direct-to-consumer health platform and a potential infrastructure layer (“Shopify for healthcare”) that other providers can build on.
Why Myltura Matters
Nigeria faces some of the most acute healthcare gaps in Africa:
Physician shortages: Only about 3.8 doctors per 10,000 people, far below the WHO’s recommendation of 23 per 10,000
Low insurance coverage: Only about 5% of Nigerians have health insurance with 77% of healthcare spending being out-of-pocket
Cultural and financial barriers: Preventive care is rare, and most people seek care only in emergencies due to stigma, inconvenience, or high upfront costs
Fragmented health data: Records are often paper-based, preventing continuity of care and data-driven policy planning
For patients, these challenges mean late diagnoses, higher costs, and poorer outcomes. For policymakers, they translate into unmet UHC (Universal Health Coverage) goals and overwhelmed hospitals. For investors, they represent a massive unmet market where digital innovation can leapfrog infrastructure deficits.
Inception and Development
Myltura was launched in 2022 after its founders saw how distance, stigma, and affordability kept Nigerians from engaging in preventive healthcare.
Focus areas:
Telemedicine: Connecting patients with licensed doctors remotely.
Remote diagnostics: Users will first book tests via the app, then samples are collected at home or designated locations, and the results are delivered digitally
Pharmacy access: Linking diagnosis to prescriptions and delivery
Health data & AI insights: AI analyzes test results and user records to provide actionable health insights
In July 2024, Myltura formally launched its mobile app at a Health Sector Mixer in Lagos. The event gathered healthcare professionals, insurers, and investors, showcasing Myltura’s integrated approach. In 2025, the startup was selected for Google’s Accelerator: Africa Class 9 program, receiving grant funding and technical mentorship.
Impact & Importance
Though still early-stage, Myltura has begun to show:
Improved access: Users in Lagos and Abuja can bypass travel and long hospital queues
Lower costs: Remote testing and bulk partnerships reduce patient expenses
Better awareness: AI insights and health tracking encourage preventive behavior, especially among young adults
Systemic value: Aggregated anonymized data can inform public health planning, disease monitoring, and insurance product design
Challenges & Limitations
Logistical complexity: Expanding home-testing and lab integration nationwide requires robust infrastructure
Regulatory uncertainty: Telemedicine and AI in healthcare remain lightly regulated in Nigeria; new rules may emerge
Trust-building: Many Nigerians are still skeptical of digital health and preventive care.
Funding pressure: Balancing affordability with sustainable margins is difficult in a low-income context
Competition: Peers like Clafiya, Reliance Health, and MDaaS also tackle aspects of Nigeria’s healthcare problem
Strategic Outlook & Opportunities
Service expansion: Add remote monitoring for chronic conditions, mental health consults, maternal health packages
Geographic growth: Scale across Nigerian states, then into other Sub-Saharan African markets
Insurance integration: Partner with HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) to bundle Myltura services into coverage
Public partnerships: Collaborate with state governments for community screenings and outreach
AI leadership: Use localized health data to train predictive AI models tailored to African populations
Conclusions
Myltura exemplifies the new wave of AI-driven health innovation in Africa: blending technology with practical service delivery to fill systemic healthcare gaps. For policymakers, it aligns with Nigeria’s digital health and UHC goals. For investors, it offers a scalable model with multiple revenue streams (consults, diagnostics, pharmacy, B2B services).
Its future success depends on navigating logistics, regulation, trust, and funding, but the fundamentals are strong. Myltura is well-positioned to become a cornerstone of digital health in Nigeria and beyond.
