Fraunhofer IST spin-off S Mile Solutions reports positive results

Successful completion of the PreCare field deployment in Namibia

Press Release /

The self-sufficient PreCare platform, mounted on a standard pickup truck, enables the deployment of medical care units in remote and hard-to-reach regions of southern Africa. For a further practical test, the mobile care unit was handed over to the N/a’an ku sê Foundation in December 2025 and tested during a field deployment in Namibia. This test deployment has now been successfully completed. The Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST and its spin-off S Mile Solutions report a thoroughly positive outcome.

A white pickup truck is parked on an unpaved road. The vehicle has a black structure on the roof and bears the “SMile” logo on the side. Green bushes and a cloudy sky can be seen in the background. The name of the PreCare project, “PreCare - Healthcare for everyone and everywhere,” is written on the platform on the pickup bed.
© Fraunhofer IST
The PreCare mobile care unit enables improved healthcare even in remote areas.

During the first two months of operation, the PreCare platform was integrated into the outreach program of the N/a’an ku sê Lifeline Clinic and deployed in the remote Omaheke region in eastern Namibia. A total of approximately 500 patients, including more than 200 children, received medical care. The mobile unit traveled more than 2,100 kilometers to reach even hard-to-access communities.

The PreCare platform has proven itself to be an effective solution delivering medical care on the “last mile”. Thanks to its self-sufficient energy supply via solar power and battery storage, as well as integrated water treatment, disinfectant production, and refrigeration, it could be operated independently of local infrastructure. This enabled the reliable conduct of medical examinations, treatments, and preventive measures directly on-site.

The insights gained in the field provide an important foundation for the further development of the platform and future deployments. At the same time, the project underscores the commitment of S Mile Solutions and the participating Fraunhofer Institutes to successfully translating innovative technologies with concrete societal benefits into practice in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Healthcare for everyone and everywhere.

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