Pakistani health tech platform raises $6 million to expand across GCC
MedIQ was founded by Dr. Saira Siddiqui, a doctor who holds a PhD in Health Economics from the University of Yorkshire, in 2020 in Pakistan's capital Islamabad.
The startup aims to redefine health care through a digitally enabled hybrid ecosystem and is currently operating in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada.
'This over-subscribed round signals strong investor confidence in our accelerated market traction, validates our excellence in engineering to support in becoming the leading health tech player in MENA, and reinforces the great experience our customers have with MedIQ Solutions,' the platform said in a LinkedIn post on May 4.
'With fresh capital, a focused team, and a purpose-driven founder, MedIQ is now primed to scale across the GCC to become a regional leader,' it added.
The company, which expanded into Saudi Arabia in 2023, said it will use the funding to strengthen its technology stack, scale operations in the Kingdom's health tech market and support entry into Qatar and neighboring Gulf markets.
In an interview with Arab News in 2023, Dr. Siddiqui expressed her desire to see the platform expand across GCC countries.
Siddiqui had said women were the bulk users of MedIQ's products as it is usually hard for them to visit hospitals without male companions in Pakistan and the Middle East.
'According to the figures which we have, about 74 percent of our users are women and [the] women having children or dependents such as older parents,' she had said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia lifts global health standing with research milestones, WHO Healthy Cities
Saudi Arabia's national health system continues to strengthen its global standing through a series of significant achievements in scientific research and international recognition. The Ministry of Health highlighted the designation of 16 locations as 'Healthy Cities' under World Health Organization criteria. Among these, Jeddah and Madinah stand out as the first cities in the Middle East with populations of 2 million or more to receive the accreditation, marking a milestone in the ministry's 'Healthy Cities Program' and its efforts to enhance quality of life. The accomplishment reflects successful collaboration among government and community stakeholders through the application of more than 80 international evaluation criteria across nine core domains spanning health, development, and sustainability. Saudi Arabia has also made notable advances in medical research and innovation. A study conducted by King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center on robotic liver transplantation was named one of the 10 most influential research papers of 2024 by the American Society of Transplantation. In addition, seven Saudi hospitals were included in Brand Finance's Global Top 250 Hospitals 2025 report, highlighting the Kingdom's strong healthcare infrastructure, international competitiveness, and commitment to high-quality patient care. These accomplishments are closely aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly the 'A Vibrant Society' and 'A Thriving Economy' pillars to enhance quality of life and support innovation and scientific advancement. Together, the milestones reflect the integrated efforts of the national health system and various sectors, reinforcing the Kingdom's position as a regional hub and global destination for advanced healthcare.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
World's best: Riyadh hospital completes 10 kidney transplants in 48 hours
RIYADH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre this week set a world record by performing 10 kidney exchange transplants in just 48 hours. The achievement coincided with World Organ Donation Day, which falls on Aug. 13 and aims to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. Dr. Ehab Abufarhaneh, deputy executive director of the hospital's Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, told Arab News: 'KFSHRC performed the kidney exchange transplants over two consecutive days setting a global record. This happened with a great team led by Dr. Khaled Almashary and Ali of the department of kidney and pancreas transplant. 'This initiative opens a door for many patients who have no suitable donor.' The KFSHRC said the record was for the highest number of such procedures conducted within a two-day span at a single center. 'This milestone reinforces the hospital's position as a global leader in organ transplantation. It also reflects its high clinical readiness, the seamless coordination of its multidisciplinary medical teams and the advanced systems for managing donor-recipient matching, alongside its extensive experience in executing complex transplant procedures,' it said. Paired kidney transplantation is an innovative approach where two or more incompatible donor-recipient pairs swap kidneys to achieve compatible transplants. The process significantly improves compatibility rates and offers hope to patients who face challenges in finding a suitable match within their families. Last year, the KFSHRC celebrated another milestone with the completion of its 500th transplant since the program was launched in 2011. Since the creation of its organ transplantation program in 1981, it has successfully performed more then 5,000 kidney transplants, placing it among an elite group of global transplant centers. Last year it conducted 80 pediatric kidney transplants, more than any other facility in the world for the period. By leveraging its skilled workforce, advanced technologies and the integration of research and clinical programs, the KFSHRC aims to deliver world-class treatment while enhancing the Kingdom's position as a leader in organ transplantation. In 2023 and 2024 it ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa region and 15th globally on the list of the world's top 250 academic medical centers and was last year recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East by Brand Finance rankings. It also ranked among the world's 250 best hospitals in 2024 and was included in Newsweek magazine's list of best smart hospitals for 2025.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
Mortar kills 2 children and their mother in northwest Pakistan where troops are targeting militants
KHAR: A mortar struck a home and killed two children and their mother in a northwestern Pakistani region where security forces are carrying out a 'targeted operation ' against the Pakistani Taliban, residents and a hospital official said Wednesday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the overnight civilian casualties in Mamund, a town in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Naseeb Gul, a medical doctor at a local hospital, said the dead were two children and their mother. Two people were also wounded Tuesday when another mortar hit their home, he said. Angered by the deaths, hundreds of demonstrators were refusing to bury the bodies and demanding an investigation, according to local villager Mohammad Khalid. There was no immediate comment from the government or the military. The latest development came days after security forces launched an offensive in Bajaur to target militant hideouts. The provincial government said the 'targeted operation' was launched after tribal elders failed to evict insurgents from the region. Government officials said the ongoing offensive against the Pakistani Taliban has displaced 25,000 families or an estimated 100,000 people in Bajaur, where authorities eased a curfew on Wednesday, allowing residents to buy essential items. Thousands of displaced people are currently residing in government buildings, and many other have gone to other safer areas to live with relatives. The Bajaur offensive is the second operation there since 2009, when the military launched a large-scale campaign against the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. The TTP is a separate but a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Many TTP leaders and fighters have found sanctuary in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover and have been living there openly. Some have crossed the border back into Bajaur to carry out attacks.
