The drug supply chain in Africa is broken. Pharmacies struggle to keep life-saving and life-sustaining medicines in stock. Often patients are forced to pay prices—padded by middlemen—three times what they would in a Western country for the same drugs. Meanwhile, non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and hypertension—which generally require daily medications at the time of diagnosis—are becoming the biggest burden on African healthcare systems. While disease rates rise, drugs fail to get into the hands of those who need them most.
mPharma makes medicine accessible and affordable. Its innovation is to take ownership of the supply chain, eliminate inefficiencies, and introduce price controls. mPharma buys drugs on behalf of pharmacies which then sell them to patients—saving pharmacies the up-front cost, alleviating supply constraints, and introducing an efficiency checkpoint. Its ability to track and aggregate demand and its purchasing power result in lower drug prices.
mPharma has formed partnerships with major drug manufacturers—including Novartis, Bayer, and Pfizer—and now manages a network of providers throughout Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Many pharmacies in its network, such as the Red Cross in Zimbabwe, have managed to eliminate stockouts. mPharma also works with clinics to conduct community health screenings and to sign patients up for its innovative drug financing—an interest-free micropayment plan. mPharma cleans up the pipeline of drug procurement to deliver affordable drugs to sick people.
Fragmentation of the drug market in Africa leads to frequent stock outs and keeps medicine from getting into the hands of patients who need them most.
mPharma disrupts the traditional “pay for supplies” model of drug distribution by stocking pharmacy shelves with no payment required up front.
Growing up in Ghana and suffering from thoracic scoliosis, Gregory saw first-hand the frustrations of his parents trying to secure the medicines he needed.
mPharma manages inventory for a network of over 188 providers in Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Pharmacies and hospitals eliminate stock outs and streamline procurement, allowing more time for their core work of healthcare provision. Drugs are made accessible and affordable for all customers.
Continued expansion of its network and patient reach and avenues to continued drug cost reduction through partnerships with major drug manufacturers.
Co-Founder and CEO, mPharma
Gregory Rockson is the CEO and Co-Founder of mPharma. Growing up in Ghana and suffering from thoracic scoliosis, Gregory saw first-hand the frustrations of his parents trying to secure the medicines he needed, with pharmacies experiencing frequent stock outs and charging high and fluctuating prices. At the age of 15, Gregory set up a nonprofit to provide medicines to children living with HIV/AIDS. Prior to co-founding mPharma, he worked at the Center for American Progress, the New York State Assembly, and Center for the Next Generation. Gregory is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. He received his BA in Political Science from Westminster College, was a PPIA Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, and a Rotary Scholar at the University of Copenhagen.
We are delighted to announce the five winners of the 2019 Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship, one week before we head into the 16th Annual Skoll World Forum: Crisis Text Line, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, mPedigree, mPharma, and Thorn. …
