What is the name of your organization?
imisi
What is the name of your solution?
imisi Pharma
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
AI-powered drug authentication and stock optimization to eliminate counterfeit antibiotics and ensure reliable access to safe, effective treatments.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
NGA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Problem Statement: Ensuring Safe and Effective Antibiotics for Low-Income Nigerians.
Substandard and falsified antibiotics are a major public health crisis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nigeria, where 1 in 10 medical products is either fake or substandard (WHO, 2022). In Nigeria alone, up to 17% of antibiotics fail quality tests, leading to treatment failures, preventable deaths, and rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control – NAFDAC).
Over 58,000 registered patent medicine shops serve millions of low-income Nigerians who lack access to pharmacies. However, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) estimates over two million unregistered pharmaceutical premises operate without regulation, exposing consumers to substandard and falsified antibiotics (Punch, 2023).
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Crisis
Nigeria ranked 20th out of 204 countries for AMR deaths, with 263,400 deaths in 2019 (The Guardian, 2025). Unregulated medicine shops distribute counterfeit antibiotics that worsen AMR, leading to ineffective treatments and preventable deaths.
Key Challenges:
1. Lack of Drug Verification: Patients and vendors cannot verify antibiotics’ authenticity.
2. Poor Inventory Management: Many shops stock expired or substandard drugs.
What is your solution?
imisi Pharma is an AI-driven mobile accessible pharmaceutical verification and inventory management solution designed to ensure access to safe and effective antibiotics for low-income Nigerians relying on patent medicine shops.
How It Works:
1. Drug Verification – Using AI-powered image recognition and barcode scanning, vendors and patients can instantly verify antibiotics' authenticity by cross-checking against regulatory databases (NAFDAC, PCN).
2. Smart Inventory Management – imisi Pharma automates procurement, monitors stock levels, and prevents the sale of expired or counterfeit antibiotics using cloud-based tracking.
3. Real-Time Surveillance – The system collects data on antibiotic sales, flagging counterfeit trends and helping regulators combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Technology Stack:
1. AI & Machine Learning – Drug image and barcode analysis.
2. Cloud Computing – Secure, scalable inventory tracking.
3. Mobile & Web Platform – Accessible for patent medicine vendors and regulators.
By integrating digital verification and intelligent inventory systems, imisi Pharma enhances antibiotic safety, prevents counterfeit distribution, and improves public health outcomes.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
imisi serves:
1. Patients – Millions of low-income Nigerians relying on patent medicine shops will access verified, high-quality antibiotics, reducing health risks from counterfeit or expired drugs.
2. Patent Medicine Vendors & Pharmacies – imisi Pharma’s AI-powered inventory management helps vendors verify drugs, track stock, prevent expired drug sales, and boost credibility with consumers.
3. Healthcare Regulators (NAFDAC, PCN, MOH) – Real-time data on antibiotic distribution helps identify counterfeit hotspots, improving pharmaceutical oversight and enforcement.
4. Pharmaceutical Companies & Suppliers – imisi Pharma enables safer drug distribution, reducing losses from counterfeit infiltration and ensuring proper stock levels at retail points.
Impact: By integrating AI-driven verification and inventory management, imisi Pharma protects patients, strengthens vendors, supports regulators, and secures supply chains, reducing antimicrobial resistance and ensuring safe antibiotic access for millions.
