Maisha Meds, a Kenyan digital health company, has received $5.25 million in funding from USAID to scale up its malaria care program in Africa.
Maisha Meds’ software platform helps rural pharmacists and clinics purchase high-quality, affordable medicines and pass on the savings to patients. The USAID funding will support Maisha Meds’ expansion to reach more people in need of affordable, high-quality malaria care through private drug shops, pharmacies, and clinics, which often serve as their first and only point of care.
With additional support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Maisha Meds plans to expand its mobile software to 7,500 pharmacies and clinics by the end of the grant period, delivering subsidized care to nearly a million patients.
“Frontline pharmacies provide the bulk of malaria care in many parts of Africa outside of the formal health system, and technology can play an important role in improving the quality of care they provide,” said Dr. Jessica Vernon, founder and CEO of Maisha Meds. “We are thrilled that USAID has provided additional support to scale our innovation in partnership with governments and pharmacy owners.”
Stage 3 grants are the highest level of funding offered by USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures program. They are awarded to innovators who have proven cost-effective approaches to critical global challenges. Maisha Meds uses partner funds to incentivize healthcare providers to follow best practices in malaria care and to offer discounted testing and treatment to patients. It provides similar support for family planning and HIV prevention.
