Digital health platform MYDAWA and research-intensive biopharmaceutical company MSD have announced a collaboration aimed at enhancing concierge health services to support cervical cancer elimination in Africa.
The initiative, unveiled during the Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) 3rd Access to Markets (A2M) event, will expand access to both at-home and in-clinic health services, backed by online booking tools and educational counselling. MSD will provide business and technical expertise to help refine MYDAWA’s patient-focused delivery models.
“We’re excited to support MYDAWA in improving access to healthcare, powered by purpose and technology. This is how we break down barriers across Africa,” said Dr. Priya Agrawal, MSD Vice President, International Health Equity and Partnerships.
The i3 A2M event also saw the announcement of two other major healthtech partnerships. Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) signed an MoU with Sproxil to strengthen malaria surveillance and access to diagnostics and treatment. The partnership leverages Sproxil’s AI-powered test-to-treat model to deliver real-time data from pharmacies and medicine vendors, helping NMEP track disease patterns and ensure accountability.
“African-led solutions, when supported, can transform healthcare delivery and ensure life-saving antimalarials reach those who need them most,” said Dr. Ashifi Gogo, Sproxil CEO.
Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Social Engagement Fund invested in three startups—Dawa Mkononi, Kasha, and Reach52—supporting innovative pharmacy solutions across Africa.
Since July, i3 has facilitated over 110 introductions between leading healthtech startups and investors or partners, resulting in 15 partnerships valued at over $20 million. The A2M event convened 15 startups, 41 investors, and multiple government representatives, showcasing a rapidly growing ecosystem of African-led healthcare innovation.
i3 is backed by the Gates Foundation, MSD, Cencora, Endless Health, HELP Logistics, Sanofi, and Boehringer Ingelheim, advancing scalable, digitally enabled solutions to improve patient access across the continent.