Social impact investment consortium ImpaQt Group has invested in Australian digital health company Cardihab to help expand solutions for the prevention and treatment of Australia's biggest killer – cardiovascular disease.
Cardihab is a landmark Australian digital health company with a head office based in Queensland, that facilitates the virtual delivery of cardiac rehabilitation and chronic disease management programs for patients recovering from cardiac events and living with heart disease.
Patients use the Cardihab apps to complete their cardiac rehabilitation program from home virtually while under clinical supervision by qualified healthcare professionals.
ImpaQt Group Managing Director Lisa Siganto said that the opportunity to invest early in Cardihab was overwhelmingly compelling.
"Intentionality is at the core of our investment strategy. Cardihab fits perfectly into our objectives to invest in companies that provide innovative and sustainable solutions to address the health and wellbeing priorities of our society," Ms Siganto said.
"Cardihab can have a profound impact on people living with heart disease and particularly people in regional and remote communities who currently struggle to access cardiac rehabilitation programs and specialised cardiac care.
"Critically the platform can help reduce barriers to healthcare access for underserved beneficiaries.
"The personalised program can support the tailored needs of individuals that typically do not participate in programs such as those with work or family commitments and women who are significantly underrepresented in traditional programs.
"This includes women whose participation in cardiac rehabilitation is low."
Cardihab Chief Executive Officer Helen Souris said the platform provided a clinically validated and COVID-19 safe solution that empowers patients to engage in self-management while under clinical supervision.
Digital innovation in healthcare that enables patients and clinicians to manage chronic disease safely, remotely and more cost-effectively is critically important for a healthcare system at breaking point. It also offers an important choice for patients that can help improve their quality of life while recovering from a traumatic health event like a heart attack, she said.
"Cardiovascular disease is the biggest health problem our community faces both in terms of the number of people affected and the cost," Ms Souris said.
"Clinically validated digital health programs are essential to bring technology into the fold of healthcare in Australia as it has with other aspects of daily living like banking, shopping and entertainment," Ms Souris said.
"The power of digital health in addressing cardiovascular disease management and treatment can only be achieved via a collaborative effort with healthcare professionals and patients.
"It is also only possible with the generous support from investors like the ImpaQT Group who share our vision to deliver outcomes that will make a meaningful difference."
About cardiovascular disease and cardiac rehabilitation
- The Health of Queenslanders 2020 Report showed coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in Queensland, with more than 19,000 deaths between 2014-2018, representing 12.8 per cent of all causes of death;
- Coronary heart disease is the second leading cause of death for Queenslanders aged 35-64 years after digestive cancers;
- According to the
