About/ Our Story
Our Story
“We believe accessible healthcare is the foundation for a wholesome life”
The Problem
Without reliable diagnostics, health systems cannot deliver effective care. This is a major setback for disease control in the poorest regions of the world.
Without the right diagnosis, treatment of disease is impossible - and to make a right diagnosis, most diseases require the patient to undergo an appropriate laboratory test. Pathology and laboratory medicine are the foundation of modern medicine, but unfortunately they are unavailable to the majority of patients in developing countries, especially those in Africa. This means that most patients contend with a significant risk of misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis or no diagnosis at all.
Pathologists are important members of the laboratory team, playing key roles in diagnosis of diseases, diagnostic leadership and quality control. The severe shortage of pathologists in Africa impedes diagnosis of diseases like autoimmune conditions, extrapulmonary tuberculosis and cancers, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Many developed countries have a ratio of 1 pathologist to every 50,000 people or less. In Africa, this ratio is 1 pathologist to 1 million people. This shortage illustrates the even larger problem affecting availability of laboratory professionals in general as well as the distribution suitable physical laboratory infrastructure across the continent. This problem contributes to cancer being the 5th leading cause of death in Africa and 3rd leading cause of death in Kenya, the birthplace of The Pathology Network.
Our Solution
We empower human beings to access the highest level of healthcare so that they can live full and wholesome lives.
We are a healthtech company and our software solution, the Spes360 DMS, brings equitable access to diagnostic testing to patients in Africa. This cloud-based software platform seamlessly connects hospitals, doctors, and patients to a global network of laboratories and pathologists for specialised laboratory testing. We are a trusted intermediary who understands the African diagnostic landscape - we coordinate the laboratory sample workflow, connecting African patients to the best diagnostic resources in the world. Our system ensures quality and speed of diagnostic results for patients while also enabling reliable payments for labs and pathologists. Our mission is to ensure that patients access high-quality and timely laboratory test results in order to unlock the diagnoses they need for treatment. Spes360 digitally manages laboratory referral systems, leveraging technology to overcome the lab diagnostic limitations faced by low-resource countries. With Spes360, critical diagnostic resources, such as specialised laboratories and pathologists can become shared national or international resources for efficient and reliable diagnosis.
We are not just a tech company; we are advocates for a new African diagnostic narrative. Together with our growing team of collaborators, we are rewriting the future of healthcare diagnostics, making high-quality diagnostic testing accessible to all.
Why Us?
At The Pathology Network, we understand the profound impact of timely and accurate diagnostics. Our team is uniquely positioned to solve the challenges of diagnostic testing because we draw upon a wealth of both personal and professional experiences. Many of us have faced the frustration of delayed diagnoses or have watched loved ones endure similar struggles. Our founder, having built and managed numerous pathology laboratories in Kenya, witnessed first-hand how external systemic inefficiencies can hinder the life-saving diagnostic work done within these labs.
Driven by a shared vision, we've assembled a diverse group of experts from across the globe. Our team includes esteemed pathologists from Africa, Europe, and Australia, alongside laboratory scientists, innovative software engineers, seasoned finance professionals, and dedicated customer success agents. Together, we are pioneering a revolutionary approach to laboratory services, ensuring that diagnostic testing is equitably distributed and accessible to everyone, precisely when they need it.
Our Journey & Milestones
The Pathology Network is built with a concern for quality, patient safety, stability and reliability at its core. It has gone through progressive refinement, to become the paradigm-shifting institution that it is today serving hundreds of clinicians and medical institutions. Here are some snapshots of our journey.
2019
2020
MileStone
The first version of the TPN software is used in a live laboratory to transmit pathology results to 6 hospitals all reported by one pathologist.
2019
2020
2021
MileStone
TPN receives first institutional pre-seed investment of $50,000 from Villgro Africa and also on-boards its first paying clients
2020
2021
2022
MileStone
Standard 7-day histology testing turnaround-time established for TPN clients allowing its then 10 pathologists to provide these services to 30 hospitals
2021
2022
2023
MileStone
TPN finally goes to Nairobi, signing on a laboratory and reaching the $10,000 revenue per month milestone.
2022
2023
2024
MileStone
Seed funding raised and senior staff hired - TPN starts preparing for scale.
2023
2024
MileStone
The Ayana Project is launched targeting to screen 3.5 million women for HPV in 6 years recruiting over 70 new client health facilities in its first 8 weeks.