Vitaria

Ecopharm Ltd

Vitaria

Empowering community pharmacies with a smarter and safer antibiotic inventory control system.

Kampala, Uganda

UGA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Access to quality‐assured antibiotics remains a critical public health challenge especially in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), where shortages are frequently reported (Knowles et al., 2020). Antibiotic shortages lead to inappropriate use, such as over reliance on broad‐spectrum drugs, and also fuel the circulation of substandard and falsified products (WHO., 2024). These factors accelerate antimicrobial resistance (AMR), projected to cause 39 million deaths over the next 25 years (Naghavi et al., 2024), with the heaviest burden in LMICs (Mendelson et al., 2020). In Uganda, more than 3,000 private community pharmacies and drug shops; the primary source of medicines for many patients still rely on paper-based stock tracking, lacking any digital management system (Lugada et al., 2022). This dependence obscures real-time antibiotic consumption, undermines accurate demand forecasting by authorized importers, and heightens the risk of stock-outs and circulation of substandard or falsified products. Furthermore, sudden demand spikes driven by local outbreaks or shifts in prescribing patterns exacerbate shortages and remain invisible to public health authorities, further accelerating antimicrobial resistance. Vitaria, a digital inventory platform adopted by over 100 community pharmacies across East Africa, is well positioned for enhancements to create a smarter and safer antibiotic stock-control ecosystem at the last mile.

Vitaria is a secure, cloud-hosted inventory platform used by 100+ community pharmacies. We are enhancing it to optimize antibiotic stock management with standardized stock tracking, AI-driven forecasting tied to authorized distributors, controlled dispensing, and network-wide real-time reporting of suspected falsified and substandard medicines. A standardized antibiotic database (name, dose, formulation, manufacturer, origin) ensures consistent tracking, while GS1 barcodes at receipt and POS reduce data capture errors. Data is stored securely with role-based access via web and mobile interfaces. A digital patient card records each individual’s demographics, indication, and travel history. Before dispensing, prescriptions link to this card and some antibiotics require pharmacist login for release. Automated SMS prompts solicit patient feedback on treatment outcomes or visible product defects. Reports are centrally reviewed to identify misuse patterns, which are shared with the Ministry of Health to inform targeted responses AI models continuously refine weekly and monthly demand forecasts based on dispensing trends and patient data. Forecasts are shared with distributors to trigger timely restocking, minimize stockouts, and limit substandard products. A pharmacovigilance portal guided by WHO/NDA visual tools lets staff report suspicious medicines or treatment failures to a centralized system monitored by a designated pharmacist who continuously liaises with regulators.

Vitaria supports over 25,000 pharmacy and procurement staff across Uganda’s 3,000+ community pharmacies and drug shops; critical frontline actors in medicine access. These providers are underserved by digital infrastructure and rely on paper-based inventory systems that lack visibility into stock levels and usage trends, increasing the risk of shortages. They also face exposure to falsified and substandard medicines due to limited verification tools. Vitaria addresses these gaps through a digital B2B platform designed specifically for LMIC pharmacies. It enables standardised inventory tracking, product verification using GS1 barcodes, and real-time reporting of suspected substandard and falsified products. For pharmaceutical distributors, the platform provides demand forecasting and supply chain visibility, helping to maintain adequate stocks of quality-assured antibiotics and reduce wastage. The primary impact is on 6m patients visiting a pharmacy per year in Uganda. By ensuring pharmacies maintain regular supplies of safe, effective antibiotics and enabling data-driven dispensing practices, Vitaria helps reduce antimicrobial resistance and improves treatment outcomes. Currently deployed in over 100 pharmacies and used by more than 1,000 pharmacy professionals, Vitaria is driving responsible antibiotic stewardship and safer medicine access at the last mile of care.