What is the name of your organization?
Bangor University and Cambridge University
What is the name of your solution?
The BCG REMEDY Project
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Providing patients in Ghana with 24/7 remote access to prescribed effective antibiotics—bridging gaps, saving time, fighting antibiotic resistance.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Bangor and Cambridge, UK
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Ghana
What type of organization is your solution team?
Not registered as any organization
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Ghana has the 36th highest age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across 204 countries. In 2019, AMR caused 5,900 deaths and was associated with 25,300 more, in Ghana. These deaths exceed the country's mortality rate from neglected tropical diseases and malaria, neoplasms, maternal and neonatal disorders, HIV/aids and sexually transmitted infections, and diabetes and kidney diseases, individually. In Ghana, AMR poses a growing public health threat, fuelled by delays in timely access to prescribed antibiotics. Currently, services are unable to fulfil Ghana’s Universal Healthcare Care (UHC) policy of improving access to specified packages of health services at all levels.
This is pronounced in rural and underserved areas where pharmacy access maybe challenged. Patients experience worsening health outcomes as untreated minor infections evolve into severe, life-threatening conditions. These delays impact morbidity and mortality and contribute antibiotics misuse—such as using leftover drugs—thereby accelerating AMR spread. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and disabled, are disproportionately affected due to limited mobility and financial constraints. There is poor monitoring of antibiotic usage with nascent surveillance systems and limited reporting of treatment failures. An alternative, trackable route to timely and appropriate antibiotics is lacking, resulting in patients seeking over-the counter medication.
What is your solution?
The REMEDY machine is a remotely controlled medication-issuing device installed in community locations and pre-loaded with a locally-determined selection of antibiotics and other medication which is required urgently such as steroids. After a teleconsultation, a doctor sends a unique PIN to the patient’s phone, which the patient uses to collect prescribed medication directly from the machine, eliminating the need for travel to distant pharmacies. This solution leverages secure, automated vending technology, enhancing timely medication access in rural or remote settings. It also offers means to gather data on antibiotic use and improve surveillance to aid further research on combating AMR.
https://www.pharmaself24.com/prescription-pickup-kiosk-pharmaself24/
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
The BCG REMEDY Project serves healthcare practitioners and patients across Ghana, improving access to timely, quality-assured antibiotic therapy, in line with Ghana's UHC policy. It benefits vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those in remote or underserved areas. Designed for urban and rural use, the solution enables 24/7 access to prescription-based antibiotics following remote consultations, ensuring consistent, and potentially life-saving treatment whilst reducing inappropriate antibiotic use. It allows patients to retrieve antibiotics without lengthy pharmacy waits.
The project supports Ghana’s 3,236 doctors, helping them extend care more efficiently, especially in regions with limited infrastructure. With only 1.4 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants and a stark disparity in healthcare access—63% of urban areas have clinics compared to just 11.3% of rural residential clusters—the project addresses a critical gap in service delivery.
According to the World Bank, 41.38% of Ghana’s population—approximately 10.13 million people—live in rural areas. Of these, 88.7% lack access to clinics, and only 1.9% have access to hospitals. In contrast, 33.9% of urban areas benefit from hospital access.
By leveraging telemedicine and medication delivery, the project will test suitability for potential scale to serve up to 24.5 million Ghanaians, significantly improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare inequalities.
