Axmed launches medicines platform and summit in Nairobi to transform healthcare access

Under the theme "Unlocking Access, Transforming Lives," the summit brings together global healthcare leaders to tackle systemic barriers and explore solutions for equitable access to medicines.

The Axmed Medicines Platform aims to address inefficiencies in healthcare procurement, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which bear the highest disease burden.

By leveraging technology and a demand aggregation model, the platform enhances affordability and supply chain efficiency.

"These regions face extraordinary challenges but also present immense opportunities for healthcare transformation," said Emmanuel Akpakwu, CEO of Axmed. "Our platform consolidates 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, including healthcare providers, hospitals, and governments. It strengthens purchasing power for buyers while streamlining procurement for suppliers, ensuring reliable medicine distribution. Over 60 organizations, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, governments, and logistics companies, are working with Axmed to improve access to essential medicines.

Focus on Maternal and Child Health

With support from the Gates Foundation and venture firm Founderful, Axmed is prioritizing maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) to reduce mortality rates in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Nigeria.

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah Barasa, emphasized the significance of family health: "Maternal and newborn deaths represent some of the most profound challenges for families and for our nation as a whole."

She further highlighted the role of innovation in improving healthcare delivery: "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."

Founderful’s investment allows Axmed to expand its work beyond MNCH, strengthening healthcare systems across multiple therapeutic areas and underserved regions.   

While the Axmed Medicines Platform provides infrastructure for scaling healthcare solutions, the Axmed Access Summit serves as a forum for collaboration. The event brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and healthcare providers to develop strategies for closing healthcare access gaps.

"No technology can solve these challenges in isolation," said Akpakwu. "True transformation depends on partnerships and shared accountability. The summit fosters collaboration and charts a clear path for collective impact."

A New Model for Procurement and Distribution

Axmed’s approach aligns the interests of buyers, suppliers, logistics providers, and enablers to improve efficiency and transparency:

For Buyers: The platform helps governments, NGOs, and faith-based organizations reduce pharmaceutical costs by over 25%, improving affordability and access. Partners include Rwanda Medical Supply (RMS), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and healthcare organizations like Mission for Essential Drugs & Supplies (MEDS) and Joint Medical Store Uganda (JMS).

For Suppliers: Global pharmaceutical leaders such as Pfizer, Sanofi, GSK, Dr. Reddy’s, alongside local manufacturers like Dawa Life Sciences and Emzor, collaborate with Axmed to improve medicine availability in LMICs.

For Logistics Providers: Distribution networks, including Kuehne + Nagel, Scan Global Logistics, and CEVA Logistics, ensure reliable medicine delivery to remote areas.

For Enablers: Partnerships, including a grant from the Gates Foundation, support systemic improvements in healthcare procurement and accessibility.