Meralem Alemdjia

Algerian biomedical engineer who pioneered low-cost telemedicine solutions for rural healthcare in North Africa.

Dr. Meralem Alemdjia (b. 1989) revolutionized healthcare access in remote areas through her invention of the 'TeleMedBox' - a portable diagnostic device that connects rural clinics to urban specialists via satellite. A graduate of École Polytechnique (France), she returned to Algeria in 2016 to address the country's healthcare disparities.

Her breakthrough came with the 2018 launch of TeleMed Network, which now connects 127 rural clinics across Algeria and Morocco. The system uses AI-driven diagnostics and real-time video consultations, reducing emergency transport needs by 63% in pilot regions.

Alemdjia's innovations have been adopted by WHO's Global Telemedicine Initiative and inspired similar programs in Kenya and Pakistan. She was named Africa's Most Influential Engineer under 40 by Engineering News in 2021.

Her team's recent development of a solar-powered lab-in-a-box has brought molecular testing capabilities to areas without electricity. Over 500,000 patients have been served through her systems, with mortality rates dropping 28% in participating regions.