CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s push for digitalization and its commitment to health care have resulted in burgeoning interest from global healthtech companies.
UK-based healthtech platform Proximie, with $80 million in funding, is strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia through strategic partnerships aimed at supporting the country’s health care system.
“Proximie’s mission is to deliver a connected surgical platform to help provide quality surgical care and drive optimal performance for every health care system,” said Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram, CEO and founder of Proximie, in an interview with Arab News.
She noted that Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, particularly the Ministry of Health’s directives, has prioritized improving access to health care across the Kingdom.
“Proximie has a key role in helping the ministry meet this objective, via partnerships with local resellers in the Kingdom,” she explained.
Proximie empowers the SEHA Virtual Hospital to overcome distance barriers, enhance patient safety, and share expertise digitally among over 130 hospitals.
Hachach-Haram said there has already been significant success. “Proximie has facilitated a cardiology intervention from Riyadh for a patient in Tabuk — effectively saving the patient’s life.”
Empowering local partners
“We’re helping our local partners deepen their relationships with health care providers across the Kingdom, supporting the Ministry of Health meet its Vision 2030 goals by widening surgical accessibility,” Hachach-Haram said.
She highlighted the company’s commitment to reducing inequity and promoting interconnected operating rooms and health care systems.
“Embracing technology and improving data collection will be critical if Saudi Arabia is to fully realize the benefits of AI in health care. This will move health care toward a personalized model and improve patient outcomes,” she explained.
Proximie plans to leverage its established local partnerships.
“Our goal is to ensure local partners comply with relevant regulations and integrate seamlessly within the Saudi health care ecosystem. This way, we can improve patients’ access to care and enhance collaboration among health care providers,” Hachach-Haram noted.
Proximie’s growth strategy for the upcoming year focuses on consolidating partnerships within both public and private health care sectors and expanding its network across the Middle East and North Africa region.
“We recognize the Kingdom’s innovative approach to digital health care transformation as a great opportunity for growth and for solutions like Proximie,” she added.
“Our strategy includes expanding our partners’ networks and collaborating with both governmental and private sector players.”
Adapting to evolving regulations in Saudi Arabia is a priority for Proximie. “We are committed to providing safe and effective care to patients around the world.
“This includes complying with the evolving regulations in each region we operate in, including Saudi Arabia. We always prioritize the security of patient data and comply with all data privacy and data hosting regulations,” said Hachach-Haram.
Saudi Arabia’s market is crucial for Proximie’s expansion strategy due to its economic influence and regional leadership, she added.
“The Kingdom’s 2030 initiatives and drive to embrace technology align perfectly with our mission. Our software platform can significantly impact and help end health care inequality,” stated Hachach-Haram.
Proximie sees Saudi Arabia as a crucial hub for international technology investment and digital transformation, both of which are pivotal for health care innovation.
“The Kingdom is a magnet for international technology investment and digital transformation — both powerful catalysts for health care innovation,” said Hachach-Haram.
The company anticipates rapid adoption of advanced solutions, leading to improved health outcomes for all Saudi citizens. “As the global leader in real-time surgical connectivity, we expect to remain at the forefront of our market in the Kingdom,” she added.
Hachach-Haram also shared her forecasts for the industry’s evolution, stating that the global trend toward artificial intelligence and advanced technologies present solutions for health care challenges.
“Globally, we will see further embracing of AI and other advanced technologies, as governments pursue tactics to address health care waiting lists,” she noted.
With 5 billion people worldwide lacking access to safe surgery, innovations in health care technology are essential to ending inequality, Hachach-Haram said.
“Proximie already uses AI to improve operational efficiency and support technological development across health care. We are well-placed to continue this, cementing our position as a global leader in the space,” said Hachach-Haram.
Business fundamentals
The company’s business model centers on real-time surgical connectivity, creating value by linking surgeons for virtual interaction and participation to improve patient care.
“We also enable medical device organizations and health care operators to seamlessly collect data and connect infrastructure across ORs (operating rooms),” said Hachach-Haram.
Proximie generates revenue through software as a service model, providing its combination of services globally to democratize health care and improve surgical access.
Currently focused on growth, Proximie has not yet achieved profitability but is supported by its investors in this strategy.
“As a fast-growing, developing start-up, our business model to date has focused on reaching as many ORs as possible, with profitability to follow,” Hachach-Haram noted.
The company completed a series C funding round in 2022, raising $80 million and reflecting investor confidence in its long-term potential.
The motivation behind founding Proximie came from Hachach-Haram’s personal experiences and professional background.
“Growing up in post-war Lebanon, I saw the importance of surgical care firsthand and the impact of its lack on patients,” she said.
Her career as a surgeon and involvement in global health initiatives exposed her to inefficiencies in care, prompting her to establish Proximie in 2015.
“Building a network of ORs interconnected by the world’s best surgeons, and empowered by real-time diagnostics, data, and analysis, means we can have a greater impact and push the boundaries of what is possible in surgical care,” she added.
Key performance indicators for Proximie include its presence in over 800 hospitals across more than 50 countries and its extensive partnerships with medical device organizations, Hachach-Haram stated.
“These metrics are crucial for us as they demonstrate our reach and influence in the health care sector,” said Hachach-Haram.
To date, Proximie has raised $130 million in funding, which is being utilized to develop its software and expand its global reach, including in Saudi Arabia.
“As we completed a significant $80 million fundraise in June 2022, we are not currently fundraising,” Hachach-Haram stated.
