“When the question of a career choice was first asked in Grade 1, I boldly said I want to be a doctor. My efforts since then have fed into that and my parents happily supported the vision. Fast forward to Grade 7, I was the only student in Dzivaresekwa to achieve a ZIMSEC pass mark of 4 units.”
These are the words of Dr. Murudo Kamhara-Mutape, who not only eventually achieved her dream of becoming a medical doctor but also co-founded Medinsight Health in 2023 together with his husband.
The company owns Medinsight Family Clinic, located in the Eastlea area of Harare as well as The Steam Room Initiative, which is a proactive mental health program.
Driven by her passion for equitable healthcare access, Dr. Murudo spearheads the outreach program at Medinsight, offering free medical services to communities to enhance health awareness and proactive health-seeking behaviors.
Her philanthropic approach to her practice has won her many admirers and has also put Medinsight on the national map.
“As a medical doctor and psychiatry resident, my dedication to making a significant impact in the field of mental health is unwavering. I prioritize patient well-being and recovery through evidence-based practices and policy advocacy.
“With exceptional clinical skills, empathy, and effective communication, my goal is to improve lives and ensure equitable access to quality care,” says Dr. Murudo.
A Bright Student
A top of the class student at Gillingham Primary in Dzivaresekwa, a young and intelligent Murudo was well supported by both her family and teachers at school, as well as peers who accommodated her visual needs as a person living with albinism.
She also proved her intelligence at high school.
“I went to Zimuto High School in Masvingo for my secondary and high school education where I maintained a position in the top achievers of my stream throughout my tenure. Despite focusing primarily on academia, I also indulged in poetry, debate, and public speaking, co-pioneering a debate and public speaking club during my A-levels.”
Impressive marks in both her O-level and A-level studies paved a clear path for Dr. Murudo to proceed to medical school, where she dedicated six and a half years to completing her tertiary education.
She pursued a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Intercalated Human Anatomy, showcasing her excellence in the field. This period also marked the beginning of her career in academia, initially as an anatomy practical demonstrator and later as a Human Anatomy lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe.
Finding a Gap in the Market
While initially not envisioning herself as an entrepreneur, Dr. Murudo’s established her practice and was quite happy to live her dream. However, her ability to identify gaps in the local medical service delivery space coupled by a strong desire for a health system that would also cater for the poor sowed the seeds for her entrepreneurial journey.
“This realization culminated in the founding of Medinsight Health, which includes Medinsight Family Clinic in Eastlea, Harare and The Steam Room Initiative. I serve as the Principal Medical Practitioner at both establishments, emphasizing quality, empathetic, and patient-centered holistic healthcare accessible to all, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.
“The driving force behind founding Medinsight Family Clinic and The Steam Room Initiative, stemmed from my unwavering passion for ensuring equitable healthcare access regardless of individuals’ socioeconomic status. Having witnessed gaps and opportunities in the medical service delivery landscape, I was compelled to address these issues proactively.
“The core purpose of starting this business was to provide quality, empathetic, and patient-centered holistic healthcare that meets clients at their point of need. This vision was fueled by a desire to make a tangible impact on people’s lives by offering general medical and mental health services.”
Serving the People
Medinsight Family Clinic offers general medical and mental health services to the public. The clinic provides a range of healthcare services aimed at meeting the diverse needs of the community, including medical consultations, treatments, mental health therapies, and wellness programs.
The Steam Room Initiative, another arm of Medinsight Health, focuses on proactive mental health interventions by addressing psychosocial determinants of mental health to reduce the risk of mental illness and promote mental resilience among individuals and future generations.
To this end, the facility offers mental wellness programs for coporates, inclusive of health education sessions and other engaging activities that foster mental health and wellbeing. The Steam Room Initiative also offers mental health education in communities to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health conditions.
“We are also focusing on the younger generation by equipping them with healthy coping and resilience strategies through social media including our recently launched podcast.”
Successes and Challenges
Dr. Murudo identifies spearheading an outreach program to offer free medical services in communities and thereby improving access to healthcare and raising health awareness as one of the major accomplishments of Medinsight Health.
“We also pride ourselves in working with organizations to instill mental health practices in the workplace.”
And while the challenges she and her team have met along the way have been many, Dr. Murudo has had to think outside the box to overcome them.
“One of the primary challenges encountered since the inception of Medinsight Health has been finances to start it and for scaling up the business. Accessing financial support from banks and other institutions proved to be difficult, particularly in the challenging economic landscape for small and medium enterprises.
“To overcome these obstacles, we have adopted a gradual approach to scaling up the business, focusing on sustainable growth strategies and exploring alternative financing options.
“Additionally, strategic partnerships, efficient resource management, and a dedicated team will be instrumental in navigating these challenges and driving the business forward towards achieving our long-term goal of establishing holistic healthcare facilities in each province, prioritizing client-centered service delivery and patient care.”
Soaring Higher
Medinsight Health currently employs about eight workers across various departments to support the operations of Medinsight Family Clinic and The Steam Room Initiative and Dr. Murudo envisages this number to grow as her facilities continue to spread their wings.
“As we expand our services to other areas and diversify our service offerings, we envision a larger workforce to cater to the growing demands of the business.
“With the goal of establishing holistic healthcare facilities in each province, we anticipate increasing our workforce to ensure efficient service delivery and meet the needs of our expanding clientele.”
She is confident of meeting the targets within the five-year time frame she has set for herself and her facilities.
“Our goal is to continuously improve the quality of healthcare services offered at Medinsight Family Clinic, ensuring that clients receive the best care possible and promoting holistic well-being among our patients.
“As an individual my main goal is to continually self-develop in business and in my career as well and to contribute to the body of knowledge through research. The ultimate goal is to be in positions of influencing policies that help in improving mental health care and equity for the people within Zimbabwe and beyond and contribute to research that influences policy making.”