Livia app, which is an Uber for chemists officially launched today to allow users order medicine and personal care items from a wide selection of chemists online aims to expand across Africa when it hits its local target of 100,000 users locally.
“Though Livia is currently only available in Kenya, it will ultimately be introduced to other markets such as Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and ultimately Ghana and Nigeria in West Africa. “We will commence this expansion once we hit our target of 100,000 active users here in Kenya,” Dr. Samier Muravvej, Chief Executive Officer of Neotech, the firm behind Livia app.
Livia is also developing a similar app specifically targeted for doctors. It will allow doctors to generate prescriptions on the Livia app and tag patients. It will slightly compete with isikcure and Dr. Hub.
To promote safety and build customer trust, Livia ensures its partner chemists go through a rigorous vetting process to ascertain that they can supply safe drugs. The app has also secured the endorsement of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya. Livia is also actively engaging with insurers with a view to securing partnerships.
“Safety is naturally a key concern for our customers and for us as well. This why we working closely with the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya and vetting our partner chemists,” said Dr. Muravvej. “Insurers who partner with us will not have to deal directly with chemists as through the app, we will be able to create the largest pharmaceutical network that they can tap into.”
Livia is designed to benefit both the partner chemist and the end-user. Chemists that offer competitive pricing are able to liquidate their stock through the app, while customers who use the app access quality drugs affordably and conveniently.
“Think about a young parent who needs drugs delivered for their child at home and does not want to spend time looking for the chemist with the best price. Livia allows them to make the order via their phone and arrange for delivery,” said Dr. Muravvej.
To take on competitor MyDawa, Livia has signed up reputable chemists in Nairobi and Mombasa as Livia Partner Chemists. As partners, they receive an instant alert when a customer makes an order for medicine or personal care items via the app and are invited to submit quotations. Chemists that offer the most competitive price are then linked with the customers.
