Innovation spotlight · 30 September 2026 · 3 min read
FlexiGyn: taking women’s health care out of the operating theatre
A UCT-born device lets clinicians see and treat problems in the uterus without general anaesthesia. In 2023 it was a joint winner of the Africa Prize.
Many common problems of the uterus, from abnormal bleeding to fertility concerns, need a doctor to look inside. Across much of Africa, that has meant a hospital theatre, general anaesthesia, specialist staff and a long waiting list. For many women, that puts care out of reach.
A portable, gentler alternative
FlexiGyn was developed by biomedical engineer Edmund Wessels through his PhD research at the University of Cape Town, with co-inventor Prof Sudesh Sivarasu. It is a portable device with a camera and a flexible scope that lets clinicians diagnose and treat conditions of the uterus without general anaesthesia, so care can move out of the operating theatre and closer to where women live.
Recognised across the continent
In July 2023, FlexiGyn was named joint winner of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, sharing first place with Ugandan innovator Anatoli Kirigwajjo. Each winner received £25,000.
What we take from it
Some of the best ideas don’t invent a new treatment. They move an existing one closer to the people who need it. If a solution needs a big building and a big budget, ask what a smaller, cheaper, portable version could do.
Sources
Independent editorial summary, not a Launchpad campaign or endorsement. No affiliation is implied. Claims describe the cited source’s publication period, not necessarily current performance; sources checked 30 September 2026.
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