Dr Vuyane Mhlomi, CEO at Quro Medical

What led you to become a medical doctor?

My dad had poorly controlled diabetes when I was a kid. He was hospitalised every other weekend with a complication, and he’d spend hours waiting to see a doctor. I remember thinking that one day I would like to be a doctor so that no-one has to wait in a queue to get help. Sadly, he died when I was 11.

Then, while I was writing Matric my mum had a stroke, but we got her into the public healthcare system early and she survived. That was my first experience of a healthcare system actually working. When I qualified as a doctor, I was determined to build on it so that others shouldn’t have to lose a parent at such a young age.

You were a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. What did you learn about yourself there?

I think I had my Damascus moment there. I already had my degree from UCT and was on track to become a cardiologist when I realised that I’d just be slotted into the healthcare system and would end up plugging holes. I wanted to do more, to build something that would fundamentally transform South Africa’s healthcare system.

We would never have achieved what we have done to date at Quro Health if I had not experienced that time at Oxford. I was surrounded by brilliant minds and given the tools to help me think about what I truly wanted to do.

Quro combines hi-tech and care. How does this work?

Our telematic technology is a 24/7 real-time system that monitors patients’ vital signs. It allows someone to receive continuous care at home, either from their own doctor or from one provided by Quro. The system will detect if they need help, and will call for it.

Has partnering with big medical aids and healthcare providers changed the way you see things?

It has showed me that healthcare is everyone’s problem and that there is an urgency to our work. Quro’s progress illustrates what can be achieved when everyone works together – we have about 80% of South Africa’s medical aids on board.

Our biggest impact, though, is in the public sector where we help to decompress overloaded government facilities. Joining forces with Operation Healing Hands has further shown us that we can shoulder some of the burden currently on the public sector.

Covid-19 has taught everyone that no amount of money can buy you a hospital bed in a crisis. Because our hospital-at-home concept was up and running when the pandemic began, our teams could go to people’s home and they managed to save lives.

Zikho Pali, COO at Quro Medical

Why do you think people say that Quro Medical is revolutionary?

We are tackling a very significant pain point in our healthcare system. Admitting patients to hospital or keeping them there when it’s not necessary escalates costs and threatens the system. It also widens disparities in care and treatment.

Our approach has shown itself to be pragmatic and viable in South Africa, and also has infinite potential for export.

Your first funder was someone you met on a plane. Any advice for a small business that has just secured their first investor?

Acquiring our first investor in that manner was exhilarating, but also scary. It felt too good to be true and we consuilted a few trusted advisers before closing the deal. I’d say you have to be as clear as possible about how you will use their funds, to be able to manage their expectations well. Additionally, you should expect and embrace a heightened level of accountability in running the business and making important decisions.

What is it about your partnership with Vuyane that works?

We are very different people and, in many ways, it is one of our greatest strengths as a founding team. For example, he has a healthy risk appetite, while I tend to be more risk averse. Both approaches are necessary attributes when building and growing a business.

Additionally, despite both being strong-willed, we are equally open to learning and being wrong. This ensures that we’re always pulling in the same direction, and the business benefits from this approach.

All founders have tough days. How do you get through them?

I remind myself why I embarked on this journey in the first place. Remembering that ‘why’ is enough to keep me going, and helps me to resist the urge to give up.

It also helps to reflect on and celebrate any incremental wins. There are days when an incremental win is simply getting out of bed and showing up.

About Quro Medical

Quro Medical’s hospital-at-home service offers a practical, more affordable alternative to hospitalisation. It also allows hospital patients to go home sooner, and get the professional care they need there. This includes:

• access to a 24/7 clinical command centre;

• clinical oversight by their doctor;

• real-time hospital-grade vital-sign monitoring with early warning signals;

• in-person and virtual doctor’s visits;

• specialised nursing;

• physiotherapy;

• intravenous therapy and short-term oxygen;

• medication and laboratory services; and

• rapid response services, including emergency services.

Where to find Quro Medical

Web: quromedical.co.za

Twitter: @quromedical

IG: @quromedical

LI: @Quro Medical

This article originally appeared in Nine Yards magazine. Read it here.