Inteleos POCUS Certification Academy and First Medical Company Partner to Ensure Responsible POCUS Device Distribution in Africa
New collaboration ensures clinicians in South Africa and surrounding countries acquire both a POCUS device and the foundational knowledge to use it safely
June 23, 2026
Inteleos’ Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Certification Academy, is partnering with First Medical Company, a leading medical device distributor across South Africa and surrounding countries, to ensure that clinicians acquiring POCUS devices are equipped with the foundational knowledge to use them safely. Through this collaboration, access to the POCUS Fundamentals Certificate will be bundled directly with First Medical’s POCUS device sales, making validated competence a built-in part of the purchase, not an afterthought.
Competence at the point of purchase
Unlike traditional device distribution models, this partnership makes education a condition of access. When clinicians purchase a POCUS device through First Medical Company, they receive access to the POCUS Fundamentals Certificate. A structured program that validates knowledge of ultrasound physics, instrumentation, and core clinical application. The certificate also serves as a prerequisite for advanced POCUS certifications, giving clinicians a clear pathway from device acquisition to demonstrated proficiency.
South Africa’s POCUS market is projected to nearly double from USD 24.67 million in 2023 to USD 47.99 million by 2033. The growth is driven by demand for portable, bedside diagnostic tools across diverse clinical settings. This partnership positions responsible adoption as a standard, not an option, as growth continues to accelerate across the region. For Inteleos, this is not remote credentialing. With a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, the commitment to raising POCUS standards in Africa is both global in scope and local in presence.
.
Clinical perspectives
“Distributing POCUS devices without ensuring the clinician has validated foundational knowledge creates real patient safety risk,” said Jasmine Rockett, Director of the POCUS Certification Academy at Inteleos. “This model, where competence validation is built directly into the point of sale, is exactly how responsible POCUS adoption should work, and we’re proud to build it with First Medical Company.”
“First Medical Company has always been committed to more than device delivery. We believe the value of a medical technology is only realized when the clinician using it is truly prepared,” said Melissa Flanagan, CEO and Founder of First Medical Company. “Partnering with the POCUS Certification Academy allows us to offer our customers something no standard distributor can: a globally validated credential alongside the device.”
Next steps
The partnership launches with the POCUS Fundamentals Certificate bundled with POCUS device sales across South Africa and neighboring markets. Clinicians and institutions can learn more at pocus.org or contact First Medical Company at firstmedical.co.za.
About Inteleos
Inteleos fuels the global health community to ensure equitable access to quality care. Guided by the strategic policy to bridge healthcare ecosystems through trusted data, validation, and continuous learning, Inteleos is a mission-driven nonprofit organization that mobilizes and equips a network of individuals and entities to create value in the areas of learning and certification, communities of practice, global infrastructure development, and data and technology, which collectively fuel the realization of equitable access to quality healthcare worldwide. It oversees the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, or ARDMS, the Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancement, or APCA, and the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification Academy, collectively representing 150,000 certified medical professionals worldwide. With a regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, Inteleos is committed to building sustainable, locally grounded credentialing infrastructure across the continent. The Inteleos Foundation manages the organization’s philanthropic initiatives. For more information, visit inteleos.org.
About The POCUS Certification Academy
The Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Certification Academy, part of Inteleos, provides clinicians with education, certificates, and certifications designed to validate POCUS knowledge, application, and proficiency across diverse clinical settings. Through structured learning pathways, assessments, and partnerships, the Academy supports safe, effective ultrasound use and consistent global standards in point-of-care imaging.
About First Medical Company
First Medical Company imports and distributes technologically advanced medical products and devices across South Africa and surrounding countries. SAHPRA-approved and ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 certified, First Medical Company upholds a Quality Management System that exceeds customer and stakeholder expectations. With more than 30 years of experience in the medical industry and as a preferred supplier to the South African National Blood Service, First Medical Company is a trusted partner for clinical innovation across the African continent.
Media contact
Inteleos
Lisa Jordan
Lisa.jordan@inteleos.org
First Medical Company
Blythe van Heerden
Marketing & Communications Director
