Adelyn Soetyono, Jiwon Shin, Keval Parekh, Han Wen (Vanessa) Chang
Local Pharmacies are an integral part of the African Healthcare system … and some of them are bringing positive change.
1. Local Pharmacies & mPharma
Improves access to medicines for patients.
A pharmacy retail chain across Nigeria and West Africa providing best healthcare products and medicines.
Provides rapid test kit and technology for chronic and acute conditions to pharmacies.
Privately-owned, roadside local pharmacy stores.
Provides innovative financing and inventory management solution to hospitals and pharmacies.
Got acquired by mPharma recently.
Provides a digital medical history solution (health passport) to its members.
Due to Africa’s open pricing policy, these stores often vary hugely in pricing.
Operating countries 850 Mutti Pharmacies & stores 155 Hospital partners
million Patients
Doctors send a prescription code to pharmacies and patients that contains dosage, quantity and medicine details.
Pharmacies
Foresee demand and stock problems in pharmacies and hospitals
Create new supply chains to meet high demands of medicines in various regions
Help pharmacies and hospitals manage medicine inventory and stockage
Ensure patients always have access to affordable medicines at nearby pharmacies and hospitals
“Africa that’s in good health. We will not cease until every person on the continent has access to safe and affordable medicine.”
- mPharma’s vision
But medicines sometimes, do not entirely solve the problem. Continuous healthcare monitoring is also required to avoid misdiagnosis and achieve overall patient care.
Health monitoring devices ensure preventative, post-surgical as well as ongoing care for a patient.
Mita band (device)
A continuous 4-in-1 vitals monitoring device that tracks pulse, respiratory, oxygen saturation and temperature.
Neo (software)
Mita band (device)
Neo (software)
A digital platform where patients can track their vitals and schedule appointments, and pharmacies and Neopenda can manage inventory and device distribution.
Manufactures, repairs and recycles the device. Keep track of all orders and inventory through the software
Rents the device, register the patient and keep track of the stock of devices.
Patient rents the device from the pharmacies for a limited time period and tracks vital history on mobile app
A continuous healthcare monitoring device that tracks pulse, respiratory, oxygen saturation and temperature
Red light flashes followed by beeping sounds when vitals fall outside of normal range.
20~60cm
Adult arm
circumference 20~45cm
Baby chest
circumference 39~60cm
Adult arm
circumference 20~45cm
Baby chest
circumference 39~60cm
Wearing the Mita band on the chest ensures proper vital readings for infants.
Young adults have the option to wear the Mita band around the chest
Young adults have the option to wear the Mita band around the chest or on the upper arm.
and seniors can wear the Mita band on their upper arm.
Pocketed strap for securing the device
Vital sign sensors
Temperature, Oxygen level, Pulse rate, Respiration
Coin cell battery
CR2477 1000mah
Steel or Aluminum
CNC
LED diffuser
Polystyrene
Injection molding
Vital sign LED
Arm band
Silicone
Compression molding
Extra band
Device case
Arm band
Extra band
Device case
Arm band
Total cost of manufacturing per device: $7.33 +
Instructions are written on the packaging for ease of use
Instructions are written on the packaging for ease of use
Helps patients continuously track vitals signs at home on their own.
Helps pharmacists track the rental status of the devices.
Helps Neopenda track the devices’ stock and distribution.
Financial & logistic agreement with mPharma
Pilot launch in Ghana
Develop Neo software
Scaling the service
Expansion in entire Ghana
Pilot launch in Nigeria
Sourcing and manufacturing Mita band
NeoMita has the potential to prevent misdiagnosis and help achieve overall patient care in Africa by giving access to affordable healthcare monitoring.
● mPharma acquires HealthPlus-
https://mpharma.com/2022/09/14/mpharma-acquires-majority-stake-in-healthplus/
● mPharma business insights -
○ Vision - https://mpharma.com/our-vision/
○ mPharma for pharmacies - https://mpharma.com/pharmacies-hub/
○ mPharma for patients - https://mpharma.com/patients-hub/
○ Published impact report - https://mpharma.com/2022/04/28/mpharma-impact-report/
○ Business case studies
■ https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=59405
■ How mPharma is making it easier to get prescriptions -
https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-rctom/submission/love-and-other-drugs-how-mpharma-is-making-i t-easier-to-get-prescriptions/
■ Design case study - https://essentialdesign.com/case-study/mpharma/