The Challenge of Healthcare Access During a Pandemic

When COVID-19 struck Ghana in March 2020, the healthcare landscape changed overnight. Lockdowns were implemented, movement was restricted, and people were afraid to visit hospitals for fear of exposure to the virus. Yet medical needs didn't stop: chronic conditions still required management, urgent care was still necessary, and many Ghanaians found themselves in a difficult position: needing medical attention but unable to safely access it.

At Summer Health, we saw an urgent need and an opportunity to serve. Within weeks of the first lockdown announcement, we launched BookADoc, a home healthcare platform that brought qualified medical professionals directly to patients' doorsteps.

Building a Service in Crisis Mode

The speed of our launch was unprecedented. Traditional healthcare services can take months or years to establish, but we didn't have that luxury. Ghanaians needed solutions immediately.

Our team worked around the clock to build the infrastructure necessary for safe, reliable home healthcare delivery:

Technology Platform

We developed a web and mobile platform that allowed patients to:

Request doctor visits with a few taps
Schedule appointments at convenient times
Specify their symptoms and medical concerns
Receive real-time updates on doctor arrival times
Access their medical records digitally

Doctor Network

We partnered with licensed general practitioners across Accra and Kumasi, carefully vetting each healthcare professional to ensure:

Valid medical licenses and credentials
Experience in primary care and diagnostics
Commitment to patient safety protocols
Understanding of COVID-19 prevention measures
Ability to make sound clinical decisions in home environments

Safety Protocols

Patient and provider safety was paramount. We implemented comprehensive protocols including:

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for all medical staff
Sanitization procedures before and after each visit
Temperature checks and health screening for doctors
Contactless payment options
Telemedicine consultations for non-urgent cases

Overcoming Logistical Challenges

Operating a home healthcare service during a pandemic presented unique challenges we had to solve in real-time.

Movement Restrictions

With lockdowns and curfews in place, movement around the city was severely restricted. We worked with the Ghana Health Service to obtain official exemptions for our medical staff, ensuring they could travel safely to see patients while complying with all government regulations.

Supply Chain Disruptions

The global medical supply shortage affected Ghana too. PPE, diagnostic equipment, and even basic medical supplies were difficult to source. We established relationships with multiple suppliers, maintained buffer stock, and adapted our protocols based on available resources.

Trust Building

Convincing patients to allow strangers into their homes during a pandemic required building trust quickly. We focused on transparency:sharing doctor credentials, implementing video consultations before visits when requested, and maintaining clear communication throughout the process.

The Impact

Within the first three months of operation, BookADoc had:

Conducted over 2,500 home visits across Greater Accra and Kumasi
Served patients ranging from newborns to elderly citizens
Diagnosed and managed conditions including diabetes, hypertension, respiratory infections, and COVID-19 cases
Provided medication delivery services to over 1,000 households
Created employment for 45 healthcare professionals during economic uncertainty

But the numbers only tell part of the story. We heard from elderly patients who could receive their chronic disease management without risking exposure at crowded hospitals. We supported pregnant women who needed prenatal care but were afraid to visit clinics. We provided peace of mind to families caring for sick relatives at home.

Technology Enabling Care

The BookADoc platform demonstrated how technology could bridge critical gaps in healthcare access. Our system handled:

Patient Management: Digital records allowed doctors to review patient history before visits, ensuring continuity of care and informed clinical decisions.

Logistics Optimization: Smart routing algorithms ensured doctors could see more patients efficiently while minimizing travel time and exposure risk.

Quality Assurance: Built-in feedback systems and follow-up protocols helped us maintain high standards of care and identify areas for improvement.

Data-Driven Insights: Anonymized data helped us understand disease patterns, service demand, and resource allocation needs across different communities.

Lessons Learned

The rapid deployment of BookADoc taught us invaluable lessons about healthcare delivery in crisis situations:

Speed Matters: When lives are at stake, perfection cannot be the enemy of good. Launch with core functionality and iterate based on real-world feedback.
Trust Is Everything: In healthcare, particularly home-based care, trust must be earned through transparency, professionalism, and consistent delivery.
Adaptation Is Continuous: Protocols, processes, and systems must evolve as situations change. What worked in week one may not work in week ten.
Community Partnerships: Working with the Ghana Health Service, local pharmacies, and community leaders was essential for legitimacy and reach.
Staff Support Matters: Our healthcare workers were risking their own health to serve others. Providing them with proper safety equipment, fair compensation, and emotional support was crucial.

Looking Beyond the Pandemic

While BookADoc was born out of crisis, it revealed something important: there was significant demand for convenient, quality home healthcare in Ghana even beyond pandemic conditions.

Elderly patients appreciated not having to navigate traffic and crowded waiting rooms. Busy professionals valued the time saved by having doctors come to them. Parents with young children found home visits more practical than bringing sick kids to hospitals.

This realization shaped our vision for the future. BookADoc wasn't just a pandemic response: it was a new model for healthcare delivery that addressed real gaps in Ghana's healthcare system.

The Foundation for Future Innovation

The success of BookADoc during COVID-19 laid the groundwork for everything Summer Health would build next. We proved we could:

Deploy technology solutions quickly in response to urgent needs
Build trust with both patients and healthcare providers
Navigate regulatory requirements and health system integration
Scale services across multiple cities
Maintain quality standards while growing rapidly

These capabilities would become the foundation for our maternal health technology, insurance partnerships, and other innovations in the years to come.

Gratitude and Commitment

Launching BookADoc during one of the most challenging periods in recent history was possible only because of the dedication of our team, the courage of our partner doctors, and the trust of our patients.

To the healthcare workers who risked their own health to serve others: thank you.

To the patients who trusted us to care for them in their most vulnerable moments: thank you.

To the families we served, the lives we touched, and the communities we supported: this is just the beginning.

BookADoc continues to serve patients across Ghana, evolving from a pandemic response into a comprehensive home healthcare platform. Learn more about our current services at Summer Health.

Launching BookADoc: Home Healthcare During COVID-19