Vensa Health Founder and Chief Executive Ahmad Jubbawey’s passion for innovation is fuelled by some fairly sobering health statistics.

He believes the Kiwi healthcare industry is staring down the barrel of a crisis, with estimates 50 per cent of doctors are on course to retire in the next decade.

“Effectively that means if nothing changes, we will have a choice of either waiting a week to ten days before you see a doctor, or going to the emergency department. Having kids, the idea of going to the ED every time you have someone who’s really sick is frightening,” Ahmad said.

The mobile health solutions company has already made history in New Zealand by offering doctors a free system that allows patients to book their own appointments via the web or mobile.

“We work with around 70 per cent of general practices around the country, and we are doing about a million messages a month in people receiving their health reminders,” Ahmad added.

While those are staggering results, Vensa Health is far from finished.

“27 per cent of Kiwis have an unmet need when it comes to accessing a health centre. With xone we want to explore true digital transformation, step by step. Instead of going to see the doctor, what can you do… to access the doctor from the comfort of your own home and enable virtual consultations?” Ahmad said.

Entry to Vodafone xone, a start-up accelerator programme means those questions can be better explored.

“I am so excited about the impact we’re going to have on the healthcare system as a result of this. Access to health is a human need, and if we use technology to facilitate and accelerate that need then it means we can do something about it – together with Vodafone we are working on something that’s bigger than all of us,” Ahmad added.