Tanzania - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Digital Medicine Home Delivery 'Umoja Pharmacy'', is a project developed and operated by Melian Software Company Ltd. The business involves sourcing, refilling medicine prescriptions and delivery to patient homes for both insured and cash patients.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Digital Medicine Home Delivery 'Umoja Pharmacy'', is a project developed and operated by Melian Software Company Ltd. The business involves sourcing, refilling medicine prescriptions and delivery to patient homes for both insured and cash patients. Overtime, it has been challenging for patient to obtain their medicines especially chronic medications i.e cancer, diabetes, hypertension etc due to their scarcity, regulation and prices. Our study indicated that most hospitals do not have adequate stock to serve all patients and most of the time it's because of regulations involving importation and permit. Once a patient upload a prescription to our platform https://umojapharmaceuticals.co.tz/prescription our role is to source the medicines, process all necessary insurance approvals or payments, implement smooth logistical means for delivery to patients. Currently we are contracted by Jubilee Health Insurance, Assemble Insurance and Britam Insurance. The service is accessible publicly.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

Our experience and study indicated that most of the chronic medications are not stocked by pharmacies or hospitals, are not registered by the authority, prescriptions are branded and the cost for this medicines is higher than generics. Our project aims to (1) Reduce the trouble of patient finding their medicines i.e now they only upload their prescriptions and receive their medicines conveniently and timely (2) Helping insurance save more which allows patient benefits to last longer i.e our prices are lesser comparing to private hospitals (3) Ensuring quality and safety of medicines to patients i.e allowing patients to receive exactly what their doctors has prescribed. Our services allows doctors to consult patients whenever we notice indifference or changes in medicine traits or behaviour. Also, monitoring medicine pharmacovigilance which allows us to consult patients and doctors on certain quality issues to ensure patients are safe.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The use of our projects allows; (1). The general public to request and receive their medicines conveniently with assured quality, availability and affordability. (2). The project gives opportunity for insurance companies to save considering the cost of chronic medications at private health facilities being high. (3). Patients benefit depletion, using our project allows patients to benefit the lower cost of medicines either by insurance or cash and henceforth allowing their insurance benefits to last longer. That is why we are the insurance choice. (4). Our access to global marker allows us to source unavailable medicines from different countries for our patients ensuring that they have quality and safe medicines. (5). Leveraging the use of technology to amplify business and cause exponential business expansion and growth. Insurance companies prove to be reliable and friendly to all refillable medicine patients. (6). The projects allow prescription control and validation.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The project beneficiaries are; 1. General public especially patients with long term illness requiring monthly refilling of medicines, both insured and non insured can obtain their medicines conveniently by uploading prescriptions to our platform. 2. Insurance companies, using our project insurance can save money, improve their services but also have control of refillable prescriptions and keep track of all prescriptions. 3. Manufacturer, all prescriptions allow patient to write reviews and comments which are used to track and report medicine behaviours in the market ''part of pharmacovigilance process''.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2022-01-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

3

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

1. Nelson John Mbona - Chief Technical Officer (CTO), and expert in ICT including software designing and development with an experience of over 8 years in the software designing and development. An overseer of all project undertaken by Melian Software Company Ltd. 2. Victoria Muiruri - Logistics and Supply Chain experts, responsible for all sourcing and delivery processes both in and out of the country. 3. Winston Churchil - Pharmacists, responsible for ensuring all sourced and delivered medicines are compliant with regulations and are of acceptable quality. Also, overseeing prescription translations and management.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

https://umojapharmaceuticals.co.tz/prescription

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

Reflecting on the cost of medicines;- 1. Our project offers medicines at a very lower prices and without any consultation fees. The amount the patient was to use for consultation or the remaining from the medicine discounted prices can be relocated to the family use. 2. Convenience allows them to get their medicines at their homes which reduces the logistical costs and that can be relocated top serve other family needs.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

Reflecting on the cost of medicines;- 1. Our project offers medicines at a very lower prices and without any consultation fees. The amount the patient was to use for consultation or the remaining from the medicine discounted prices can be relocated to the family use. 2. Convenience allows them to get their medicines at their homes which reduces the logistical costs and that can be relocated top serve other family needs. 3. Offering jobs to delivery teams where we use normal riders (Boda Boda) for delivery and thus adding their daily income.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

Currently, there are many counterfeit medicines in the market. Using our project or program allows and gives patients assurance of receiving quality and safe medicines. This helps reduce the risk of using wrong or counterfeit medicines and thus it helps protect individuals using the medicines. We are aware that currently the ADR and AMR is in pick, however measures like ours ensure patients are given correct medicines and thus ensure their healthy and wellbeing of considered a priority.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Our program is designed to integrated online learning for health related courses. Thus we are extending our development to deploy e-learning platform which is reflective of our environment ensuring courses on health related subjects, lifestyle etc are incorporated to ensure the public is knowledgable. But also, using our social media platforms we are able to generate and share to public quality knowledge on medicines and health in general ensuring each individual visiting our pages shall receive an insight on better health.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

Generally our programs contribute to women empowerment through job creation and priority. Currently, 1. The program has 10 employees where 6 are women. 2. Online consultation extension will have over 15 women doctors 3. Home base care services extension will have not less than 27 nurses.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

Through our program, As part of giving back to the community (CSR) we donate to support WASH program through Melian Foundation. Recently we have donated Disposable and Re-usable Sanitary Pads and Delivery Kits to Magu District for students and martenal mothers.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

We have not yet engaged in clean energy through this program.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

My project promotes decent work and economic growth through provision of employments and opportunities for growth, mentorship through structured partnership. We are currently finalizing an MoU with MUHAS which will give us access to coach, train, mentor and support in establishment of digital health innovations to students of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

My project contribute to industry innovation and infrastructure such that;- 1. Innovation - Our project focuses on progressive innovation, deploying new technologies to empower efficiency and simplicity. our methodology allows studying, researching and implementing such advancement to ensure the innovation is optimal. 2. Data provision, with our data and information we support the industry innovate or improve or research for new technologies to enhance production, quality and even safety of commodities.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

When everything is done freely, digitally the room for inequalities reduced to nearest none while everyone is entitled to service rights.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

N/A

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

Normal society person can request and obtain their medicines at a very low costs. No additional costs is needed and thus using circular economy to obtain services.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

My project contribute to the climate action goal through the reduction of paper use. With digital solution, we reduce the use of papers and thus support the efforts for green earth. Also, through CSR we provide funds through Melian Foundation to support tree planting and protection natural source of water.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

3

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

N/A

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

3

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

N/A

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

Social interaction has rooms for stigma and bullying. Our project allows individuals to request and receive their medicines freely at their homes and hence protect them from all signs of stigma and bullying.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

My project contribute to global partnership especially in the health sector. According to SDG, health is a priority for the community and so our project engagement ensures safety and reliability of pharmaceuticals especially for chronic illnesses.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

The currently existing product is operational, however the obtained funds will be used to improve the solution. The uniqueness of my project is that, in Tanzania it is the first B2C focusing inhume delivery of medicines using digital innovation.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

1. Most of my competitors are focused on B2B business model (Grintas, Dawa Mkononi, Yebi etc). My product is a B2C business model where I serve customers and not business while the rest serves business. 2. All hospital are my competitors because after patients are attended at the hospital and there are not medicines they can access the service through my project. At a point my project appear as a competitor while in reality my role is to ensure customers receive the best service to guarantee their health and wellbeing.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, 1. CSR programs are under the custodian of female 2. Martenal and Child health programs best prescribes us. 3. WASH programs mostly constitute of female