COVID-19 Africa Watch talks to Vivian Nwakah, Founder and CEO of Medsaf, about addressing the inefficiencies and inequalities in African healthcare systems.

Key Takeaways

Below are some of the main takeaways from COVID-19 Africa Watch’s conversation with Vivian Nwakah, the Founder and CEO of Medsaf, a curated medication marketplace that was launched in 2017 and distributes high-quality medicines to African hospitals and pharmacies at competitive prices.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed major cracks in the healthcare system across the world, and in Nigeria. Medsaf was uniquely prepared for these disruptions owing to its online distribution channels, and so its partnering hospitals and suppliers were able to adapt quickly.
• Even the most developed countries have seen inequality in terms of COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This inequality is likely to be further exacerbated in Africa. In the African context, there arguably needs to be a huge push from the government and NGOs to enforce efficiency and equity in vaccine distribution and to ensure that the vaccine does not solely benefit the wealthier segments of society.
• Economic hardships caused by the pandemic, including unemployment and reduced income, have driven people to cheaper medicine and to self-medication, raising considerable health concerns and favoring the growth of fake sub-medication suppliers. This situation makes it even more urgent for responsible stakeholders to connect in an efficient way, drive down costs, and improve suppliers’ operational efficiency.
• Technological solutions are available, but they need investment.

The interview was conducted by Leah Kusensela Simasiku, an IFC-Milken Institute Capital Market Scholar from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia.