South African digital health platform Unu Health has received a Silver Stevie Award for its work to make private healthcare more affordable and accessible through technology.
The platform was recognised in the New Product of the Year: Healthcare Technology category at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence.
Unu Health combines virtual doctor consultations, AI-assisted health assessments, preventative care, pathology testing and flexible payment options in one digital platform.
International recognition for South African innovation
The third annual Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence attracted more than 700 nominations from organisations across 37 countries and territories.
The winners were determined by the average scores of more than 180 professionals during a two-month judging process.
Judges highlighted Unu Health’s use of technology to address some of the cost, time and convenience barriers that prevent South Africans from accessing private healthcare.
According to figures submitted as part of the awards process, the platform has helped reduce the cost of a private doctor consultation from R450 to R189, representing a 58% reduction. It has also reportedly contributed to a 63% reduction in medication costs, while the average wait for a virtual consultation is approximately five minutes.
Unu Health has grown to more than 120,000 users and 3,000 business-to-business health plans. The app also holds a 4.8 rating on Google Play.
“Our focus has always been on making quality healthcare easier to access and more affordable, particularly for people who may otherwise delay seeing a doctor because of cost, convenience or the time involved.”
Bringing different healthcare services together
A key part of the Unu Health offering is its attempt to simplify the journey between recognising a possible health concern and receiving appropriate care.
The app includes an AI-powered, 50-second facial health scan intended to give users an accessible starting point for understanding certain aspects of their health through their smartphones.
It also combines digital consultations with preventative healthcare services, allowing users to access different parts of their healthcare journey without relying entirely on traditional face-to-face healthcare models.
Judges praised the way the platform combines telemedicine, AI-assisted assessments and preventative care in a system designed around accessibility and affordability.
One judge described it as an impactful response to a real-world challenge, while others highlighted features including zero-rated data on the Unu Health App.
Making private healthcare more affordable
The platform operates on a pay-as-you-go model, which allows users to access services without committing to a traditional medical aid plan.
Its CareCard feature also allows people to purchase healthcare vouchers for family members, recognising that healthcare costs and decisions often extend beyond the individual.
Lance Blumeris of Unu Health said the award recognised both the platform’s purpose and the team responsible for developing it.
“These awards are ultimately about recognising technology that makes a meaningful difference, and we are incredibly proud that the Unu Health platform has been recognised in this way,” Blumeris said.
“To have an international panel of technology professionals recognise the impact of what we are building in South Africa is incredibly encouraging. This Silver Stevie Award is recognition of the team behind Unu Health and, importantly, of what is possible when technology is designed around customers’ real healthcare needs.”
The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence recognise individuals, teams and organisations shaping the future of technology across different industries.
For Unu Health, the Silver award marks another step in its effort to make private healthcare easier to access through digital consultations, health assessments and more flexible payment options.
For more information, visit the Unu Health website.
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