Bringing Healthcare to the People
By Larry Lindner
May 2024
One in four Americans skips regular medical checkups, citing such impediments as a lack of time and not liking doctor’s visits, according to a 2023 survey by the insurance company Aflac. But imagine if you couldn’t go for your checkup because you’re poor, live in a rural area without easy access to a medical facility, or are impeded by ethnic, racial, or other marginalizing cultural strictures.
That’s the case for four billion people globally. It means no blood draw to check cholesterol levels, blood glucose, and other markers that could indicate common illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. No measurement of blood pressure, iron status and pulse rate. No urine test to screen for kidney disease.
But HealthCube is starting to turn that around, by bringing vital screenings to people where they live. They created a portable device that is small enough to fit into a backpack and takes more than 30 measures of a person’s health using blood and urine samples, with results within 20 minutes. One version of the machine even conducts an electrocardiogram to monitor the heart’s electrical activity.
To date, more than one million people have been tested using HealthCube, virtually all of them in India, where the company is located. Testing also covers diseases relatively common in that country, such as malaria and dengue (a close relative of yellow fever).
HealthCube’s portable device fits in a backpack and takes more than 30 measures of a person’s health, with results within 20 minutes.
“In the past, we have sold to Kenya,” says HealthCube CEO Runam Mehta, “and we have been trying to make inroads into Dubai, as well.” With the support of Endurance28, HealthCube explored the Mexican market and facilitated a joint venture with one of the country’s largest pharmaceutical groups. The only thing that’s stopping the company from distributing the machine in other countries, Runam says, is resources — or a lack of them. HealthCube already has the go-ahead to sell the device in the European Union’s 27 member states, as well as some 50 other nations.
Reducing the cost of manufacturing the product has been a significant challenge for the company. “It has increased because of dollar price changes, import taxes and customs,” Runam says. “We need to see what we can procure from more accessible areas of the world, given the geopolitical climate.”
But that creates its own difficulties. “You can’t really switch components in and out,” she says. “You have to go back through the regulatory hoop, which takes a couple of years. It’s not so straightforward.”
Adding to the pressure, Runam explains, is the fact that the company only has enough funds on hand at any given time to operate for 45 days. HealthCube is currently in discussions with a venture capitalist, in an effort to become a sustainable organization that doesn’t need to depend on external equity in order to survive.
Despite the challenges, Runam is optimistic that the company will do well. “Two years ago we received our first government order — for 380 devices,” she says. “Getting that sizable order, which was the largest we received to that date, financially changed our position. More importantly, it established us as a company that could supply to the government. That’s very hard to crack. But once you’ve received the first order, it’s much easier to get subsequent orders.”