Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Hlokomela will let patients search for healthcare providers, see available times and book appointments online for free.
- Up to 500 healthcare providers will test the platform before a wider rollout, with the first launch planned for August.
South African technology company Knockturnal is preparing to launch an AI-assisted platform that will let patients find healthcare providers and book appointments at any time.
The company, founded by software engineer Moses Tjege in 2019, plans to launch Hlokomela at the end of August.
Patients will be able to search for healthcare providers, see available appointment times and book consultations online.
The system will also send confirmations and reminders and allow patients to reschedule appointments.
Tjege said Hlokomela is designed to help receptionists, not replace them.
“Hlokomela is not designed to replace a practice’s secretary — it works alongside existing staff,” he said, Mail & Guardian reported.
For smaller practices that cannot afford full-time reception staff, the platform could also handle some of that work.
Patients will not pay to search for providers or make bookings.
Healthcare providers will pay a subscription, although prices have not yet been announced.
Tjege said many practices still depend on phone calls, paper diaries and manual reminders. He said this can lead to missed appointments and communication mistakes.
Hlokomela aims to keep all appointment information in one place and update it in real time.
The first pilot will include up to 500 licensed healthcare providers.
These will include GPs, specialists, psychologists, dentists and physiotherapists.
“We are starting with independent and small practices, where the platform’s benefits are most immediate,” Tjege said.
He said the pilot would test Hlokomela in real healthcare settings before a wider rollout.
Pictured above: An AI-powered robot.
Image source: Pexels
