Patients in Kenya sell their health data to get medical care

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Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. anonymize / əˈnɒn əˌmaɪz / (v.) – to remove identifying information from something, typically personal data or records
    Example:

    The company anonymized the survey responses to protect the privacy of the participants.


  2. pharmaceutical / ˌfɑr məˈsu tɪ kəl / (adj.) – relating to the production of drugs and medicines
    Example:

    The pharmaceutical industry plays an important role in developing and distributing medications to treat various illnesses.


  3. incentivize / ɪnˈsɛn tɪˌvaɪz / (v.) – to motivate or encourage someone to do something by offering him/her a reward
    Example:

    The company plans to incentivize its employees with a cash bonus for meeting their targets.


  4. certified / ˈsɜr təˌfaɪd / (adj.) – meeting certain standards or qualifications
    Example:

    The company hired certified professionals to ensure the quality of their services.


  5. protocol / ˈproʊ təˌkɔl / (n.) – a set of guidelines that shows how a specific process or procedure should be carried out
    Example:

    Before conducting the experiment, the researchers carefully reviewed the protocols to ensure that they followed the correct steps.


Article

Read the text below.

Personal patient information is being given currency in Kenya as a way of expanding patient access to doctors.


A mobile start-up says its phone application allows users to pay for medical services by selling their personal data online through blockchain technology which protects their identity.


In Kenya, accessing medical services can be expensive. Kenyan start-up Snark Health believes it’s found a way to enable more people to get qualified medical attention without having to pay for it with cash.


When a patient needs medical attention, they look for a doctor through the Snark app. Their personal medical data is anonymized by Snark and sold to pharmaceutical or consumer health companies.


Doctors get paid in various ways to incentivize them to join the app. When they see patients who cannot pay, they receive 10% of the cash Snark earns from selling patients’ anonymized data.


If a paying customer also agrees to the collection and sale of their health data they will get an equal share of the cash earned, so Snark, the doctor, and the patient each earn a third of the money made through the sale of the data.


The founder of Snark Health is Edwin Lubanga. He explains the app means the patient has access to doctors regardless of funds. Lubanga says: “Snark is a platform that connects patients with doctors […]. Basically, patients log into the platform […] to find a list of doctors and book appointments and consult them on the go.”


According to Lubanga, it’s also a way for fee-paying patients to make extra money.


According to Snark, the patient’s rights are protected because the company is a certified processor of data that complies with protocols laid down by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Lubanga says the patient’s sensitive health information can’t be traced back to them.


Austin Omune, the CEO of Negus Med Limited, says he supports the idea. “While working as a doctor, we experience patients struggling to meet the payment needs so, of course, there is a need for innovations to address this challenge,” he added. According to Snark, the app has so far attracted more than 300 doctors and 4,000 patients.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Snark says its phone application allows users to pay for medical services by selling their personal data online. Do you think it is a sustainable solution to expensive healthcare access in Kenya? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Do you think selling private information is acceptable in exchange for healthcare access and making extra money? Why or why not? Do you think this will become a common practice because of the Snark app’s success? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Austin Omune emphasized the necessity for healthcare innovations to address challenges, particularly addressing patients’ struggles with payment needs. What other healthcare challenges do you think people experience (ex. poor healthcare facilities, shortage of healthcare professionals)? What innovations do you want to see in the future to address these challenges? Discuss.
  • How would you describe the current state of healthcare in your country (ex. underfunded, very accessible)? What makes you say so? What healthcare innovations have you observed or experienced in your country recently? How do you think they are impacting healthcare access and quality? Discuss.