On a hot November day in eastern Zimbabwe, Smart Sithole, 56, walks into a clinic, struggling with dizziness and chest pain he's had for weeks. Advised by nurses from a rural clinic, Sithole traveled 73 kilometers to a private health facility in Chakohwa, near Mutare, for medical attention. However, instead of a traditional consultation, he is about to see a doctor remotely via a video call.

"I am not used to this," Sithole admitted, though his pain drove him to try. After discussing his symptoms, tests were conducted, and the doctor quickly diagnosed him with high blood pressure, sending a prescription. Within weeks, Sithole began feeling better. "I went to buy tablets from a nearby pharmacy. I took the high blood pressure medicines for the first time in my life," he said.

Zimbabwe faces a severe shortage of healthcare workers, with just 1.7 doctors per 100,000 people. To address this, ZimSmart Villages, a tech organization, has rolled out telehealth services in collaboration with the Health Ministry and telecom companies. The service allows patients in remote areas to consult doctors in cities like Harare and Mutare through BatsiHealth, a platform accessed at internet-enabled kiosks.

The high cost of internet has been a barrier, but the recent licensing of Starlink satellite internet is changing this. ZimSmart Villages has connected two of its 17 e-health centers to Starlink, expanding access to healthcare in rural areas.

"We are democratising access to health care," said Dr. Admore Jokwiro, co-founder of ZimSmart Villages. "Through our service offering, we are enabling access to early identification of chronic illnesses and enrolment into care."

Telehealth consultations are growing, with 1,800 conducted in the last six months. "In the first half year of 2025, we aim to double consultations to 4,000 and screen at least 50,000 clients," Jokwiro said.

Sithole, unable to afford travel to Mutare, is grateful for the remote consultation. "I am getting better every day," he said, thankful for the affordable care.