MENA Health Platform Esaal Raises $1.7M for Expansion

Esaal, an online health and wellness consultation platform for patients in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has wrapped a $1.7 million seed funding round.

As the Egyptian company said in a news release Wednesday (May 25), Esaal will use the funding to “scale its expansion across the MENA region, further invest in product and brand development, and increase talent acquisition.”

Esaal’s services include physical health, mental health, and nutrition consultations with professionals via text, video/voice calls and in-person home visits.

See also: UnitedHealth CEO: Telehealth Lays Groundwork for Cost-Effective Care

Available on the Apple and Google app stores, Esaal says it is the only service in the Middle East to offer “this type of comprehensive integrated, one-stop-shop solution.” The company says its services are available in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Palestine and Iraq.

“We have only scratched the surface in an untapped market and are actively working to secure further capital to fuel our continued growth,” said CEO Fadi Doss. “Esaal has become a name synonymous with trust, quality and access to health and wellness professionals that can help users obtain better outcomes.”

Learn more: As Telehealth Spike Slows, Providers Seek Innovation to Increase Engagement and New Use Cases

Esaal’s funding comes amid a rising sentiment that telehealth is crucial for reducing costs while also improving patient experience.

As PYMNTS reported last week, much of this focus has been on behavioral health. Earlier this month, credit rating agency AM Best released its report “U.S. Health: Vertical Integration Takes Many Different Forms,” which notes the need for these services has become even more essential due to the pandemic and its resulting increase in social isolation.

“Virtual care delivery for medical and behavioral health is particularly attractive to younger individuals who prefer more convenient care delivery than traditional office visits,” said Bridget Maehr, associate director at AM Best. “These are services that members may find valuable and can result in greater member satisfaction and retention.”