Healthcare Startup Launches Prescription Platform in Ethiopia
A new healthcare startup in Ethiopia, MedRafa, is poised to revolutionize prescription management with the launch of its e-prescription platform. The platform aims to create a direct link between patients and pharmacies, offering an easier and more efficient way to manage prescriptions.
MedRafa, a recent graduate of the WeVenture Hub incubator, is enticing pharmacies with a free inventory management system. This tool allows pharmacies to track crucial data like stock levels and expiration dates. Patients, on the other hand, are offered a simple tool to check medicine availability.
Ben Tesfaye, the Co-founder and CEO of MedRafa, believes the free inventory management system will pave the way for wider digitization of pharmaceutical sales. He explained that the integrated features, including tracking expiration dates, managing purchase orders, and sales history, will significantly improve pharmacy efficiency.
“Every dataset is seamlessly interoperable,” Ben told Shega.
The platform is built on Fast Health Care Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standards. This international framework ensures seamless data exchange with Electronic Medical Records (EMRs). The founders are targeting precise prescription management, automated links to pharmacies, and easy access for patients as core objectives.
Tesfaye highlighted the common challenges in Ethiopia, where pharmacies often struggle with manual data registration, consuming valuable time and resources. He hopes that the benefits of the inventory management portal will encourage a smooth transition to the automated prescription system.
Challenges in accessing medicine are common in Ethiopia. These challenges arise from limited pharmaceutical imports and a domestic manufacturing sector that is still emerging. These issues lead to stock shortages, a problem which the platform seeks to address.
A study from Gonder University found that affordability and availability are primary causes of shortages of essential medicines.
Noel Daniel, Co-founder of WeVenture, praised MedRafa as a standout startup from their incubator. He noted that Ethiopia’s healthcare sector represents a large, untapped market that can benefit significantly from digital technologies.
“Wrong prescriptions can have fatal consequences,” Noel told Shega.
Several tech startups have emerged in recent years, introducing digital tools to Ethiopia’s healthcare system. However, integration with major healthcare providers has sometimes been a challenge.
A 2023 report from Addis Ababa, titled “Addis Ababa Startup Ecosystem Report”, identified over 40 health tech startups in the capital city. This surge is the result of growing health awareness among Ethiopians as well as an increasing demand for convenient healthcare services. Ecosystem builders like Orbit Health Innovation Hub have provided crucial support.
The state-owned Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS) recently started implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to streamline its operations. Though the nine-million-dollar project shows progress, the healthcare ecosystem remains largely reliant on analog tools and systems.
