Kenya-based digital pharmacy MYDAWA has partnered with Endless Health to develop a digital-first model for hypertension and diabetes care. This initiative, one of four new healthtech deals announced at Investing in Innovation Africa’s (i3) fourth annual Access to Markets event in Kigali, aims to co-design, test, and document a model for delivering chronic disease care to low- and middle-income patients through private pharmacies in East Africa. The partnership was developed in collaboration with Ariadne Labs.
The MYDAWA partnership will build an evidence base around the ability of private pharmacies to provide quality hypertension and diabetes care while improving access for patients in their communities. Additionally, MYDAWA is partnering with Turn.io, a WhatsApp-based patient engagement platform, to make communication with patients easier and more accessible. According to Rubayat Khan, Director of Health Programs at Endless, chronic disease care in East Africa is being delivered through private pharmacies, but evidence is needed on whether this channel can deliver quality care.
MYDAWA Group COO Priscilla Muhiu emphasized that private pharmacies remain an important first point of care for people living with hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. The partnership with Endless Health and Turn.io will make access to care more affordable and strengthen care delivery for patients in their own communities. The agreements announced at the i3 Access to Markets event involved African healthtech companies, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and regulators.
Tanzanian healthtech company Dawa Mkononi signed a working-capital agreement with NMB Bank to extend interest-free credit to pharmacies, drug shops, and health facilities across Tanzania. The financing will be delivered through Dawa Mkononi’s proprietary credit-scoring engine. The company has already facilitated more than $6 million in financing to frontline health facilities, with a 0.3% non-performing rate.
Pharmaceutical supply-chain company Meditect has received debt financing from Boehringer Ingelheim to expand access to affordable and authentic medicines across Sub-Saharan Africa. The financing will support Meditect’s expansion into new and existing markets while helping the company digitize pharmaceutical supply chains. Boehringer Ingelheim Associate Director Aditya Peri stated that strengthening trusted pharmaceutical supply chains could help improve access to authentic medicines.
In Nigeria, healthtech company Sproxil signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to support pharmacy regulation through digital and artificial intelligence systems. The collaboration will cover the National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, oversight of online pharmaceutical sales, digitization of PCN’s field audit workflow, and expanded delivery of mandatory continuing professional development for pharmacists.
The four agreements announced at the i3 Access to Markets event add to the program’s growing record of connecting African healthtech companies with commercial and institutional partners. According to i3, its Access to Markets programme has facilitated more than 760 bespoke introductions, resulting in 165 partnerships, pilots, and memorandums of understanding valued at more than $19 million.
Key points
- - The partnerships aim to improve access to quality healthcare and authentic medicines across Africa. - The agreements involve African healthtech companies, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and regulators. - i3’s Access to Markets programme has facilitated over 760 introductions, resulting in 165 partnerships valued at over $19 million.
