The inspiration for 1PayMed was born not in a boardroom, but in the hallways of a hospital, witnessed through pastoral care.

While supporting young leaders from the YALI Regional Leadership Centre at the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership, our founder, Jerome Lubabalo Jacobs, accompanied participants from across Sub-Saharan Africa for medical care. A consistent, frustrating pattern emerged: patients would receive multiple, staggered invoices from hospitals, labs, and holding companies long after treatment. Crucial medical records would be delayed or lost between entities, causing insurance claims to stall and leaving patients confused by a maze of unexpected bills — even after they thought they had paid in full.

Jerome asked a simple, powerful question: Why isn't there a single, consolidated payment that settles all accounts at once, ensuring patients have clarity and practitioners get paid promptly?

For years, the answer didn't exist. The opportunity to build it finally came through the Deep Tech Challenge by Inhlanyelo Hub, which propelled this vision into reality.

Thus, 1PayMed was founded — a direct solution to fragmented healthcare payments and disjointed record-keeping. We exist so patients can pay once with peace of mind, and medical professionals can streamline revenue without delay.

One payment, one platform, for all.