Digital Health Revolution: Salus Nexa Platform in Cape Verde
A pioneering healthcare platform, partially funded by the Cape Verdean diaspora, is set to be unveiled this Saturday in Lisbon. The initiative, named Salus Nexa, aims to revolutionize medical access across the Cape Verdean archipelago and significantly reduce the number of patients forced to travel abroad for treatment.
Developed by researchers at Portugal’s NOVA Medical School, the platform provides remote medical consultations and basic diagnostic exams through specialized kiosks. While the technology has already seen success in Portugal’s thermal spa sector, its application in Cape Verde marks a major shift toward “social innovation.”
Bridging the Geographic Divide
Despite Cape Verde having a relatively high doctor-to-inhabitant ratio, its geography as an archipelago creates massive hurdles for healthcare delivery. Currently, many citizens lacking local treatment options must be transferred to Portugal for specialized care—a costly and logistically complex process. Salus Nexa aims to bridge this gap by bringing primary care directly to every island.
“When we talk about innovation, we always think of technology, but this is primarily a social innovation project,” Jaime Branco, rheumatologist and Director Emeritus of NOVA Medical School, told Lusa. “It connects the Cape Verdean diaspora directly to the health needs of their fellow citizens back home.”
The Power of the Diaspora
The project leverages Cape Verde’s unique demographic reality: of the six million people who identify as Cape Verdean worldwide, only about 500,000 actually reside on the islands. The platform allows the diaspora to sponsor healthcare for their families, friends, or even entire home communities.
“Being distant from our family or our island does not eliminate the desire for those people to be well,” Branco explained. Through the platform, members of the diaspora can partially or fully fund the kiosks’ operations, ensuring their loved ones have access to routine exams such as blood sugar monitoring, blood pressure checks, and respiratory function tests.
Key Features of the Salus Nexa Platform:
- Universal Access: Kiosks will be available on every island, regardless of how remote.
- Data Sovereignty: Health data belongs strictly to the users and will be stored on local servers within Cape Verde.
- Tourist Integration: International visitors can use the kiosks to consult their own primary care physicians in their home countries, enhancing Cape Verde’s appeal as a safe travel destination.
A Collaborative Future
The project will be a focal point of the Meeting of Cape Verdean Professionals in Portugal, an event attended by Cape Verdean Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho. Organizers believe that by involving local authorities to tailor the kiosks to specific regional needs, the platform can become a sustainable pillar of the national health system.
Beyond family connections, Branco expects the tourism sector—the engine of the Cape Verdean economy—to support the initiative, as improved healthcare infrastructure is a critical factor for international travelers. The Salus Nexa project is currently in discussions with Cape Verdean authorities to finalize its rollout across the islands.
Image: Pexels – MedPoint 24
