Axmed, a Health-tech social impact company, has launched a medicine platform to address systemic barriers to healthcare and explore actionable strategies for meaningful change.
The Axmed Medicines Platform aims to reimagine how underserved health systems and their populations access life-saving medicines. By leveraging technology and an innovative business model, Axmed addresses deep-rooted inefficiencies in healthcare procurement that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where, according to the World Health Organization, over 80% of global population growth in the next decade and carry the heaviest disease burdens globally.
“These regions face extraordinary challenges but also present immense opportunities for healthcare transformation,“ said Emmanuel Akpakwu, CEO of Axmed. “Our platform tackles these inequities by consolidating fragmented systems, empowering buyers with efficiency, high quality, and affordability, while enabling suppliers to scale sustainably in untapped markets.“
The platform is open to all qualified procurers and aggregates demand across healthcare providers, hospitals, and governments, creating unmatched purchasing power for buyers. For suppliers, it streamlines the procurement process and enhances transparency and reliability, ensuring medicines reach the communities that need them most.
More than 60 leading organizations spanning the entire medicines delivery value chain are actively engaging with Axmed to enhance access to high-quality medicines. These include global, regional and local pharmaceutical manufacturers, governments, major buyers, and a coalition of leading logistics companies.
With funding from the Gates Foundation and venture backer Founderful, Axmed is driving systemic change to improve access to essential medicines for underserved populations. A key aspect of this work, supported by Axmed’s strong partnership with the Gates Foundation, centers on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH), aiming to reduce mortality rates in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Nigeria.
Hon. Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Barasa, of the Kenyan Ministry of Health, underscored the importance of family health, highlighting that “Maternal and newborn deaths represent some of the most profound challenges for families and for our nation as a whole.” Dr. Barasa further highlighted the transformative role of innovation-driven partnerships: “Prioritizing innovation across the healthcare value chain is critical to delivering medicines and care at scale, and it remains a key focus for our government. We strongly believe in partnerships that truly empower our country to serve more patients with greater efficiency and impact.”
At the same time, Founderful’s support enables Axmed to expand its mission to serve all patients across all therapeutic areas. Together, these partnerships empower Axmed to scale its innovative platform, strengthen healthcare systems, and deliver transformative solutions that ensure equitable access to life-saving care for patients everywhere. Axmed’s holistic approach reflects a shared commitment to building sustainable healthcare systems that advance equitable access to high-quality treatments for all.
While the Axmed Medicines Platform provides the infrastructure for scalable impact, the Axmed Access Summit is designed to inspire action and forge partnerships. Bringing together thought leaders from healthcare, technology, and policy, the summit aims to build actionable solutions to close access gaps.
“Why host a summit?” Akpakwu asked. “Because no technology can solve these challenges in isolation. True transformation depends on partnerships and shared accountability. The summit fosters collaboration and charts a clear path for collective impact.”
The summit encourages dialogue across the healthcare value chain, enabling participants to share insights, build alliances, and co-create solutions that deliver medicines sustainably and at scale.
Axmed’s model is uniquely tailored to the realities of LMIC markets, aligning the interests of buyers, suppliers, logistics providers, and enablers:
- For Buyers: Through the Axmed Platform, governments, faith-based organizations, and NGOs have frequently achieved over 25% savings on pharmaceuticals and logistics, while gaining greater transparency and operational efficiency. These partners span a broad spectrum, including government entities such as Rwanda Medical Supply (RMS) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) with its 9 national member states, numerous faith-based organizations (FBOs) such as Mission for Essential Drugs & Supplies (MEDS), The Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN-Medipharm), Joint Medical Store Uganda (JMS), The Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM), the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), and large hospital networks.
- For Suppliers: The platform has engaged with pharmaceutical companies who share a similar vision of enhancing access to medicines in underserved markets. Global industry leaders, including Pfizer, Sanofi, GSK, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, and others, are joined by local innovators like Dawa Life Sciences, Laboratory & Allied, Regal Pharmaceuticals, Cosmos Pharmaceuticals, Emzor, and Fidson, in their ongoing engagement to support the building of a robust, efficient and scalable platform for the benefit of LMIC markets.
- For Logistics Providers: Reliable, tech-enabled distribution networks such as Kuehne + Nagel, Scan Global Logistics, CEVA Logistics, and Allied Logistics (formerly Agility), among others, and crucial local partners ensure that medicines reach even the most remote and resource-constrained areas.
- For Enablers: Strategic partnerships – including a grant from the Gates Foundation – are amplifying systemic change. These collaborations enable Axmed to strengthen healthcare systems, improve access to essential medicines, and drive transformative impact in underserved communities.
Transforming Systems Through Transparency and Efficiency
Axmed sets a new standard for transparency and efficiency in healthcare procurement. By consolidating demand and optimizing supply chains, the platform delivers significant cost savings on both pharmaceuticals and logistics, maximizing value for all stakeholders.
“Our success isn’t just about lowering costs; it’s about improving lives and strengthening healthcare systems,” Akpakwu explained. “The Axmed platform and summit represent pivotal steps toward healthcare equity, but we know the journey doesn’t end here. We’re committed to scaling this vision alongside partners who share our mission.”