DAWASOKO

Team Leader

Maren KOROS

What is the name of your organization?

AFYACORE

What is the name of your solution?

DAWASOKO

Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.

DAWASOKO is a mobile and web platform connecting patients to verified pharmacies

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

United Kingdom

In what country is your solution team headquartered?

GBR

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?

The problems in the pharmaceutical market within low-income countries are many. These include amongst others: • access is expensive and can be complex. • substandard and falsified(SF) medication within the market. • provider capacity and barriers to accessing medicines and medicines information. • a chaotic drug market including unlicensed drug vendors DAWASOKO addresses the critical problem of limited access to safe, regulated and affordable medication in LMICs. In many LMICs pharmacies are disproportionately located in urban areas while over 60% of the population lives within rural or peri-urban setting ( World Bank 2022). This creates a significant barrier to pharmaceutical care and exposes the populations within these settings to substandard or falsified medicines which account for 10% of medical products in LMICs, according to WHO. Patients within these settings rely on informal unlicenced vendors for medication supply, and this contributes to antimicrobial resistance, poor treatment outcomes and preventable complications. Regulatory oversight is weak at the point of sale and there is no accessible platform for patients to verify the legitimacy or availability of medication. DAWASOKO solves this problem by providing a digital platform that connects patients with verified, licenced pharmacies.

What is your solution?

AFYACORE has created a pharmacy mobile app/web platform interface known as DAWASOKO, which allows patients who are searching for medication to connect with registered pharmacies by using their mobile phones. Patients will download DAWASOKO app from online markets such as google play whilst the pharmacies will register themselves on DAWASOKO platform using their web browser. The patients will then be able to connect with the pharmacies and obtain treatment information. The patient isn’t only limited to the pharmacy within their locality, as they can connect with registered Pharmacies anywhere in the country. Using DAWASOKO platform, the pharmacies are able to upload details of their products and services. The patients are able to access these details and also interact with the pharmacies. The aim of DAWASOKO is to increase access to safe medication and safe registered and regulated Pharmacies. Currently, the pharmacies cannot capture the patient unless the patient is present at the pharmacy. We believe we are ahead in the industry in providing this solution, by providing access to safe pharmacies, to a great number of patients. We believe this platform-based delivery of healthcare will be disruptive in the service provision of the healthcare industry.

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Currently, the pharmacies cannot capture the patient unless the patient is present at the pharmacy. We believe we are ahead in the industry in providing this solution, by providing access to safe pharmacies, to a great number of patients. We believe this platform-based delivery of healthcare will be disruptive in the service provision of the healthcare industry.

Solution Team:

Maren KOROS