Angolan digital health startup Appy Health is raising funds to expand its business to Rwanda.

The firm seeks to tap into the e-health sector’s opportunities by using mobile phones to offer healthcare services.

This follows the entry of Babyl, a British company, three years ago. According to Disrupt Africa, a pan African digital resource for start-ups, Appy Health expects to raise more than $1 million (Rwf895 million) in a second round of funding to bring its health information and reserves platform to new markets in Africa.

Babyl is already a major player in the local digital health sector and offers medical services via mobile phones.

Babyl signed an agreement with the Rwanda Social Security Board to allow its clients to access prescriptions and lab tests using the community health insurance also known as Mutuelle de Sante and ex-RAMA.

It is now eyeing other countries in East Africa. Babyl hopes to make digital healthcare similar to ordinary medical services.

Peter Beirão, CEO of Appy Health said Rwanda is a priority market for them among others in Africa.

“Our main focus is on Rwanda and South Africa for now. We are at advanced talks with a partner to enter the Rwandan market.

The time to market is excellent, as Angola and Rwanda are improving partnership policies,” said Mr Beirão.

The Angolan start up uses its mobile app and web portal to help users’ access information on health facilities, doctors, hospitals and pharmacies in the Southern African country; enable users to book appointments and order medicine.

The mobile-based health services sector also known as ‘M-health’ is growing around the world due to their convenience.

A recent digital health innovation in the country is Kir-App, a self-management smartphone app for people living with diabetes.

The app was founded by Claudine Kabeza, a Rwandan PHD student in the department of diabetes prevention and managementat Carl Gustav Carus University hospital under the Technical University of Dresden in Germany.

Ms Kabeza said she noted that there was a gap in diabetic education in the country among people living with diabetes.

The Android app available in both Kinyarwanda and English, helps users get access to information about diabetes such as diets, physical activities, frequently asked questions among others. The application has been downloaded more than 500 times on Google Play store.

One of oldest mobile-based services used in health sector is rapidSMS, started by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF in 2009 to track M-health data from community health workers.