Our Impact
people supported by healthcare
financing programs
project countries
treatments have been covered through mTOMADY since 2019
Supporting Pregnant Women and Newborns
Project: Mobile Maternal Health Wallet
Location: Analamanga, Madagascar
Active: 2019 - 2023
During Fabienne’s first pregnancy, she struggled to afford the drugs she needed and the cost of delivering her baby in a clinic. This situation is not uncommon in Madagascar, where financial obstacles severely limit access to skilled maternal healthcare. For many, the situation is even more severe: Only around half of all pregnant women complete the WHO recommended 4 antenatal care visits, and less than half of all births are attended by a healthcare professional. As a result, the rate of maternal and infant mortality is high, even though many fatal complications and illnesses could be avoided by check-ups, qualified obstetrics, vaccinations, and early treatment.
Fabienne heard about our Mobile Maternal Health Wallet in 2019, during mTOMADY’s initial launch in Madagascar, which was focused on supporting pregnant women and young mothers by improving access to affordable essential care. She became one of the earliest beneficiaries to save money and receive digital vouchers for subsidized drugs and health services using the platform.
“For my second child, it was different. When an mTOMADY agent explained to me that money on mTOMADY can only be used for health, this was just what I waited for.
Every day after work I started to go to one of the vendors in the street, and put the money I had left over directly into my mTOMADY account. The best thing was that for the money I saved, I received a 50% bonus. I was able to get the drugs and treatment I needed, and I did not pay anything in cash. The best of all I could afford an ultrasound. I was so happy to see my baby.”
- Fabienne, Mobile Maternal Health Wallet Beneficiary
Improving access to healthcare in the agricultural sector
Project: COVER Madagascar
Location: Atsimo-Andrefana, Madagascar
Active: 2020 - Current
When Robert’s wife needed emergency surgery, the cost could have easily pushed his family into financial ruin. They live in a region of southern Madagascar that is among the county’s poorest. 97% of the population work in agriculture and less than 10% have a permanent employment. The region is prone to drought and food insecurity, health insurance is non-existent, and even basic medical care is unaffordable for most. COVID-19 and restrictions intended to combat its spread have exacerbated public health and economic disparities.
In 2020 mTOMADY began working with the Bayer Foundation to establish a health platform for farming families in the region. During the first year of the project, 25,000 smallholder farmers will be able to digitally enroll in the health coverage program Tosik’aina and receive digital vouchers for essential health care. Robert’s wife was one of these beneficiaries.
“We saved money to our mTOMADY account and enrolled in the voucher program. When my wife needed surgery, our invoice was 92,000 Ariary, but we only paid 18,400 Ariary. This really saved us, as we are currently in the lean season. Without this support, we couldn’t have been able to afford the hospital visit.”
- Robert, Beneficiary of COVER Madagascar in Atsimo-Andrefana
Our Research
mTOMADY works closely with leading global health research institutes to ensure we add impact and value to health interventions. Rigorous scientific methodology drives our work; human-centered design research informs the development of our solution, and ongoing studies are being conducted on its impact and cost-effectiveness. We share our findings with stakeholders across the public and private sector, so that these insights can help guide future interventions and policy decisions related to universal health coverage, sustainable health financing, and poverty reduction throughout the world.
Featured Media Mentions
MdB Michael Müller (SPD) und MdB Ruppert Stüwe besuchen Berlin Institute of Health in der Charité (BIH)
June 10, 2022
Mobile Krankenkasse
June 7, 2022
Opinion: How mobile money can help get to universal health coverage
April 13, 2022
Digital Health Wallet
April 27, 2021
mTOMADY — Mise sur le digital pour l’accés aux soins
April 16, 2021
A step towards health for all
March 11, 2021
Powering Access to Healthcare
March 11, 2020
„Compact with Africa“: Von der Charité nach Madagaskar
November 20, 2019
E-Health in Madagaskar
January 29, 2019
The life-saving power of mobile money
December 4, 2017
We love working with journalists to share compelling stories about our technology, projects, and research. Please get in touch with Jennifer Bencivenga at jb@mtomady.com.
Awards
Most Innovative Idea in Global Health, Federal German Ministry of Health’s Global Health Hub Germany
Innovator Award, Berlin Innovation Academy
Digital Health Accelerator, Berlin Institute of Health
Published Research
“A Mobile Health Wallet for Pregnancy-Related Health Care in Madagascar: Mixed-Methods Study on Opportunities and Challenges” JMIR mHealth and uHealth.
“Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of a Mobile Health Wallet for pregnancy-related health care: A qualitative study of stakeholders’ perceptions in Madagascar” PLOS One.
“Design Research to Embed mHealth into a Community-Led Blood Pressure Management System in Uganda: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study” JMIR Research Protocols.
Annual Reports