Backed by research: All studies involving Vula

2.5 million patient referrals
2.5 million patient referrals
2.5 million patient referrals

Improving tuberculosis diagnosis in South Africa’s private sector: The results of a pilot public–private mix intervention in eThekwini health district. Boffa, J., Mhlaba, T., Chibi, B., Naidoo, M., Lutchminarain, K., Swe Swe‑Han, K., Chikovore, J., Mapham, W., & Moyo, S. (2025). PLOS Global Public Health, 5(4), e0004233. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0004233

Optimising insulin use in people living with type 2 diabetes at primary healthcare facilities: The Tshwane Insulin Project. Rheeder, P, Botha, G, Mohlala, G M, Bales, O, van Zyl, D G, & Ngassa Piotie, P. (2025). SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 115(6), 33-38. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2025.v115i6.2551

Harnessing referrals as a novel data source for improving primary health care workers’ performance in Ethiopia. Anore, Z. A., Mohammed, J. M., Sendekie, T. Y., Berhanu, D. D., Peter, J., Mapham, W., Wubneh, S. B., Desta, F. A., & Dagnaw, B. G. (2023, July). Ministry of Health Ethiopia, USAID, & Jhpiego. Read the study.

The use of a mobile software application to improve the management of open tibia fractures in a resource‑constrained environment. Mzamo, S., Rajpaul, J., O’Connor, M., Arnold, J., & Marais, L. C. (2023). South African Orthopaedic Journal, 22(3), 140–145. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-mp_saoj_v22_n3_a7

Facilitating remote access to specialist medical expertise through the scaled‑up adoption of a smartphone application: A South African case. Blanckenberg, N., & Motala, T. (2022). South African Medical Journal, 112(2), 108–112. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35139992/

Use of the Vula App to refer patients in the West Coast District: A descriptive exploratory qualitative study. Steyn, L., Mash, R. J., & Hendricks, G. (2022). South African Family Practice, 64(1), e1-e9. DOI: 10.4102/safp.v64i1.5491

Towards a theoretical understanding of workarounds emerging from use of a referral mobile application: a developing country context. Kapepo, M. I., Van Belle, J., Weimann, E. (2022). Procedia Computer Science, 196, 533-541. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2021.12.046

Investigating the effect of the Vula Mobile app on coordination of care and capacity building in district health services, Cape Town: Convergent mixed methods study. Gloster, P., Mash, R., & Swartz, S. (2021). South African Family Practice, 63(1), e1-e13. doi: 10.4102/safp.v63i1.5251

Teleconsultation for diagnosis and care of burn injuries in the Western Cape: Evaluation of healthcare providers intention to use mHealth technology. Diango, K.N. (2020). Faculty of Health Sciences ,Division of Emergency Medicine. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/32649

Orthopaedic referrals using a smartphone app: Uptake, response times and outcome. Morkel, R W, Mann, Τ Ν, du Preez, G, & du Toit, J. (2019). SAMJ: South African Medical Journal, 109(11), 859-864. https://doi.org/10.7196/samj.2019.v109i11.13986

A smartphone-based consultation system for acute burns – methodological challenges related to follow-up of the system. Hasselberg, M., Wallis, L., Blessing, P., & Laflamme, L. (2017). Global Health Action, 10(sup3). https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2017.1328168

Integration of mHealth information and communication technologies into the clinical settings of hospitals in Sub‑Saharan Africa: Qualitative study. Ogundaini, O. O., de la Harpe, R., & McLean, N. (2021). JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 9(10), e26358. doi: 10.2196/26358