If you’ve ever been hospitalised, you understand the trade-off: excellent medical care requires constant patient monitoring, yet healing requires rest. For thousands of South African patients, the latest innovative technology is now solving this familiar healthcare conundrum.
“Healthcare is changing. Quality medical care no longer ends at the hospital door. It now supports your recovery at home, if needed, and keeps you connected to your medical team every step of the way,” says Dr Chris G Mathew, managing director of cancer care and business development at Netcare.
This vision became a reality last week when Netcare announced a strategic investment in Quro Medical, introducing three services that fundamentally change how patients experience healthcare. From the moment you’re admitted to hospital until long after you’re home and fully recovered, this complete healthcare journey ensures that you are never alone in your recovery.
| Netcare x Quro: Dr Richard Friedland, Chief Executive Officer of Netcare, and Dr Vuyane Mhlomi, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Quro Medical. |
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Beyond traditional hospital walls
The partnership combines Netcare’s world-class hospital infrastructure and leading-edge technological capabilities with Quro Medical’s pioneering approach to extended care, supporting the excellent work already underway in hospitals. Founded in 2018 by Chief Executive Officer Dr Vuyane Mhlomi and Zikho Pali, Quro Medical has been working behind the scenes to transform healthcare delivery across South Africa through technology.
“We’re not just adding technology to healthcare; we are completely reimagining how patients experience medical care from start to finish. Netcare immediately recognised that this could give healthcare teams more ways to deliver exceptional care. When doctors and nurses can view patient data in real time and spot patterns instantly, rather than waiting for the next round, everyone wins. Patients receive more responsive care, healthcare providers achieve better outcomes, and every healthcare rand is optimised.
“This isn’t theoretical. We’ve already partnered with South African medical schemes to reach approximately 90% of the country’s insured population. The technology and model work and, most importantly, the patients are telling us that it is transforming their healthcare experience,” notes Dr Mhlomi.
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Three services, one journey
- Continuous monitoring that lets you rest: Traditional hospital care means vital-sign checks every few hours, which often interrupts sleep. Quro’s system uses sophisticated wearable devices that continuously stream patient data to nursing stations. Healthcare teams can monitor patients 24/7 without constant wake-ups, allowing for the rest essential to healing.
- The critical 30 days after discharge from hospital: Leaving the hospital can be the scariest part of recovery. Quro’s transitional care programme provides structured support for 30 days post-discharge, including daily check-ins, medication monitoring, and immediate access to medical advice. This critical bridge between the hospital and home environments has already helped reduce readmissions by identifying complications early.
- Hospital level care at home: For suitable patients, Quro enables full hospital treatment in familiar surroundings. This is not basic home nursing but acute medical care delivered by a dedicated clinical team, with continuous monitoring and all necessary equipment. For those requiring medical services such as IV antibiotics, post-surgical care, or palliative support, hospital-quality treatment is available where they are most comfortable.
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Why this matters
“For patients facing hospitalisation, recovering from surgery, or managing chronic conditions, these services open new possibilities. Smart monitoring enables better rest and faster intervention, while post-discharge support provides peace of mind during vulnerable recovery periods. And for suitable cases, hospital-at-home brings advanced medical care into familiar surroundings, where elderly patients stay orientated, families remain together, and the healing environment itself becomes part of the treatment,” says Dr Mathew.
According to Dr Mhlomi, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Our Net Promoter Score of over 73 confirms what we see daily – healing happens best when patients feel safe, comfortable, and connected to their loved ones. Children can feel more settled doing homework at the kitchen table while a parent recovers nearby. Couples share meals together even during intensive treatment. Families stay close when it matters most.”
Perhaps the most powerful validation comes from patients themselves. “Being in my home, feeling cared for, and monitored virtually was fabulous,” says Veronica from Springs. “They even detected that I wasn’t breathing properly while sleeping.” For families, the peace of mind is invaluable. As Eudicia from Orlando East explains, “My children could finally relax, knowing I was being monitored 24/7 at home instead of alone in a hospital ward.”
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| Corsano: Healthcare is changing, not only inside Netcare hospitals but also beyond their walls. Through its partnership with Quro Medical, Netcare is currently piloting ICU-level monitoring in general wards using wearable devices that continuously track vital signs. This predictive intelligence technology provides real-time alerts to medical teams, enabling earlier interventions and better outcomes. If successful, the rollout would be the largest of its kind globally, keeping patients connected to their care teams from hospital to home. |
“This is exactly why we built Quro. Healthcare shouldn’t feel like something done to you – it should honour how you actually want to heal,” reflects Dr Mhlomi.
Looking forward
“These services complement, rather than replace, the care provided by acute hospitals. Emergency departments, operating theatres, and intensive care units remain essential and always will. But for the right patient, at the right time, we can now offer something more: the chance to heal where they are happiest,” emphasises Dr Mathew.
“The partnership positions both companies at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Quro plans to expand its capabilities to include remote diagnostics, AI-assisted clinical decision support, and population health management. For Netcare, this is another step in the evolution of how care is delivered inside and beyond hospital walls,” concludes Dr Mhlomi.
Ends.
Notes to editors
About Netcare
Experience seamless healthcare access with the Netcare app. Enjoy convenient healthcare anytime, anywhere, with expert medical care at your fingertips. Book appointments, consult with GPs virtually and manage pre-admissions all in one place. From emergency response services with geolocation to seamless admission, discover a new level of care. Download the Netcare app today.
Alternatively, contact Netcare appointmedTM on 0860 555 565, Mondays to Fridays, 08:00 to 17:00, or via the Netcare app to make an appointment with a therapist, doctor or specialist practising at a Netcare hospital, Netcare Medicross or Netcare Akeso facility near you.
About Quro Medical
Quro Medical is a South African digital health company founded in 2018 by Dr Vuyane Mhlomi and Zikho Pali. It is pushing the boundaries of innovation to deliver premium healthcare solutions that are more accessible and affordable for everyone. Its proprietary QM Insight platform powers continuous, data-driven patient care across multiple clinical settings, including Hospital-at-Home, the Transitional Care Programme and In-Hospital Continuous Monitoring. The company has partnered with all major South African medical schemes and operates nationwide. Visit quromedical.co.za.
For Quro Medical:
Contact: +27 (0)10 824 1150 or email: [email protected]
For media enquiries, please contact MNA at the contact details listed below:
Issued by: MNA on behalf of the Netcare and Quro Medical
For media enquiries Martina Nicholson, Meggan Saville, Estene Lotriet-Vorster,
contact: Clementine Forsthofer or Natasha Burger
Telephone: 011 469 3016
Email: [email protected]