What is the name of your organization?
MYDAWA Trading Group
What is the name of your solution?
MYDAWA Platform
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Leveraging MYDAWA’s platform to enhance antibiotic access and safety through predictive stock control, community feedback, and drug authentication.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Nairobi, Kenya
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Kenya
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Access to affordable, effective, and quality medicines is important for good health outcomes. A review on healthcare systems in Kenya noted that stockouts and unaffordability are among the top factors limiting patient access to essential medicines (Ministry of Health, Kenya, 2020). The average availability of essential medicines in Kenya’s public health facilities was only 44% in 2018–2019, compared to 72.4% in private facilities (WHO, 2019). When medicines are unavailable or unaffordable, patients are more likely to purchase substandard or falsified drugs, risking treatment failure and the spread of drug resistance. According to the WHO fact sheet (WHO, 2024), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health threats, with the highest rates of AMR-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
MYDAWA is addressing three main problems:
• Frequent stockouts of essential antibiotics leave patients untreated or reliant on inappropriate substitutes.
• Substandard and falsified antibiotics are prevalent—a 2024 review found up to 17% of samples in East Africa fail quality tests (Health Action International, 2024), risking patient safety and driving resistance.
• Lack of community-level data to track antibiotic use or demand. Poor stock control and data gaps lead to circulation of falsified antibiotics, contributing to AMR.
What is your solution?
MYDAWA’s solution expands its proven digital–physical ecosystem to improve antibiotic access and quality across Africa. Our integrated platform; ERP, custom EMR, e-commerce, USSD, and walk-in stores, enables real-time supply control. We use predictive analytics to prevent stockouts and are implementing an AI roadmap for demand forecasting, automation, and adherence reminders.
To eliminate substandard and falsified drugs, we contract WHO-GMP-certified manufacturers to produce MYDAWA-branded generics, all tested in WHO-prequalified labs, with 14 antibiotics already registered in Kenya. By cutting out middlemen, we deliver high-quality, affordable medicines. Antibiotics are dispensed only after a teleconsultation and lab-confirmed diagnosis; other medicines are sourced exclusively from verified manufacturers and distributors.
To drive demand and behavior change, we will implement a research-led communication strategy. In Year 1, we will conduct consumer and community research to generate actionable insights. We will then enhance our platform’s data, analytics, and engagement features. Based on these insights, we will co-develop messaging and launch a multi-channel awareness campaign, partnering with insurance companies, NGOs, and public health institutions to promote safe antibiotic use.
Starting in Kenya, we will measure impact through real-time dashboards and surveys, then expand to Uganda and Rwanda, ensuring scalable, sustainable behavior change and improved health outcomes.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves patients, healthcare providers and institutions in Kenya. MYDAWA ensures high-quality, lab-tested antibiotics are available when and where they’re needed. We work with all major insurance companies, enabling insured patients to access treatment without out-of-pocket costs, while offering flexible payment options for others.
To cater to patients across all income levels, we stock both branded and generic medications, giving people the freedom to choose based on their needs and budgets. We also deliver medication countrywide, ensuring consistent access, even in remote areas.
Patients benefit from a trusted, end-to-end care experience via our mobile app, website, walk-in stores, or USSD for those without internet. Antibiotics are only dispensed after a teleconsultation with a licensed doctor and lab-confirmed diagnosis, ensuring safe and responsible use.
We also supply our WHO-GMP-certified generics to over 400 healthcare providers, institutions and retail pharmacies across Kenya, expanding access beyond our platform. By combining digital innovation, physical reach, and strict clinical protocols, MYDAWA delivers trusted care and scalable impact in Kenya, helping fight AMR while improving health outcomes.
