More than two million children will die in the first 20 days of their lives in 2022, equivalent to about 6,500 deaths per day, according to the World Health Organization.
Furthermore, nearly 800 women died every day from preventable causes during pregnancy or childbirth in 2020, an “unacceptably high” number, the World Health Organization says.
A Singapore-based startup, Biorethum, hopes to help solve the problem with a device that women can use at home to monitor their pregnancy, while a connected mobile app transmits information such as the baby's heart rate directly to doctors for review.
“Women's health (care) has been geared towards treating sick women and not keeping women healthy,” said Amrish Nair, chief technology officer and co-founder of Biorethum.
Speaking to CNBC's “CNBC Tech” program, he said: “We are trying to provide technology that puts power back in the hands of women… It is no longer in the hospital, but now we are empowering women to be able to receive care in the place of their choice.” Edge.”
The Purethm device, Femom, monitors maternal and fetal heart rates and is designed to be easy to use, with the woman's navel used as a guide for precise positioning. It can be used during contractions, providing information to doctors for interventions when necessary.
Monitoring takes about 20 to 30 minutes, according to Siham Tidgar, head of product development at Biorithm.
“It's very easy to use for someone who's not trained or a healthcare professional, and that's where the ease of use and all the design work is,” Tidgar said. The five Femom electrodes pick up electrical signals on the surface of the abdomen and transmit the information to a dashboard, which can be accessed by medical staff.
“This device answers a very basic question for all parents: How healthy is my baby?” said Dr. Thiam Chee Tan, startup mentor at Biorithm.
'The collapse of maternity care'
Nair said in an online statement that there had been a “collapse in maternity care” due to socio-economic factors and lack of monitoring technology.
Nearly 95% of maternal deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2020, according to the World Health Organization, and in 2016 it tried to improve prenatal care and reduce the risk of pregnancy complications by issuing guidelines to increase the number of contacts of pregnant women. Women present with four to eight health care providers.
The global medical device market is expected to grow from $542 billion in 2024 to $887 billion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. Biorithm was created by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and Femom is being developed, where it is being used in clinical research settings.
The Singapore government is investing heavily in its health sector, and in 2023, Biorithm raised $3.5 million in Series A funding from government agency Enterprise Singapore and Adaptive Capital Partners. The funding is being used to develop Femom and for the company's expansion into the United States and Southeast Asia.
“Women's health has always faced a very difficult funding situation. It has never been the hottest topic in medical technology,” Nair told CNBC.
“From the beginning, we had funds that invested in us, and now funds led by women that have invested in us,” he said.
“We are seeing an evolution in the financing landscape, which is really encouraging for women's health. Although there is still a lot to be done, this is definitely a start,” Nair said.
