Maisha Meds
Maisha Meds builds free Android point-of-sale and inventory software for independent pharmacies and drug shops across East and West Africa, embedding reimbursed patient programs (malaria, HIV, vision) and data dashboards within the same app. It serves 5,700 facilities and 25M+ patient visits annually across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersKisumu, Kenya
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Maisha Meds does
Maisha Meds is a digital health organization founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kenya (Nairobi and Kisumu), building cloud-hosted Android point-of-sale and inventory management software for independent pharmacies, drug shops, and clinics across East and West Africa. The free software is the on-ramp: providers adopt it for daily business operations (inventory, sales, credit, supply-chain ordering via Shopify), and within the same app the company embeds opt-in patient programs covering malaria, HIV, women's health, and vision that reimburse pharmacies for verified care delivery. The company operates full-time in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria with active sites in Zambia and stated plans for the Democratic Republic of Congo, reaching 5,700 health facilities and 25M+ patient visits annually, supported by 4 distribution hubs and 3 spokes running an independent supply chain.
The core technology stack includes the Madai claims management system with AI-assisted auditing and computer-vision test verification (via an Audere partnership), end-to-end drug serialization from port to patient, and a real-time data pipeline producing Maisha ACT, a freemium analytics dashboard covering approximately 80% of antimalarial consumption across 40+ African countries and cited in WHO drug-resistance guidance. Revenue mechanics blend outcomes-based contracts with governments and global health funders (Lagos State/LASHMA, Uganda/Global Fund AMDIS, USAID, Gates Foundation), Maisha ACT subscriptions (free for nonprofits, paid for commercial users), and optional hardware and installation services, with no public pricing tiers for the enterprise software. Randomized controlled trials conducted with UC Berkeley, Emory, UCSF, and others document 24-30% pharmacy revenue lift, 330% increase in high-quality malaria care, malaria testing rates rising from 8% to 33%, and program costs of $3.20 per malaria patient versus traditional program costs.
Maisha Meds firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maisha Meds
- Legal name
- Maisha Meds
- Website
- https://maishameds.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Maisha Meds builds free Android point-of-sale and inventory software for independent pharmacies and drug shops across East and West Africa, embedding reimbursed patient programs (malaria, HIV, vision) and data dashboards within the same app. It serves 5,700 facilities and 25M+ patient visits annually across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maisha Meds industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Health Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (51321), Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services (541614)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Medication Inventory, Procurement & Supply Chain (Pharmacy) (HLACAKAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Medication Analytics, Outcomes & Cost Optimization (HLACAKAL), Value-Based Contracting Analytics (ACO/MSSP/MA, shared savings/risk) (HLACAHAA)
Keywords
Where Maisha Meds is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kisumu
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices7 records
Markets served
Maisha Meds business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Patient Program Reimbursements: Health programs (malaria, HIV, vision, family planning) reimburse pharmacies for verified patient care. Providers receive digital payments for delivering quality, affordable care at discounted rates to patients. This is the primary mechanism through which governments, funders, and donors pay for verified health outcomes. Lagos State pays through LASHMA; Uganda/Global Fund pays for verified malaria and HIV prevention results.
- Data & Analytics Subscriptions: Maisha ACT dashboard platform is freely available to nonprofits and academic researchers. Commercial users (pharmaceutical manufacturers, market intelligence firms) pay subscription fees for advanced analytics and data access. Data consulting team also offers bespoke analyses, dashboards, workshops, and reports to governments, ministries of health, and global health partners.
- Hardware and Installation Services: While the software can be downloaded for free, pharmacies pay for hardware (tablets, accessories) and installation services, including initial stock take. These fees are paid through Maisha Meds' mobile money account. Software downloads from Google Play Store without fees if no hardware/services are used.
- Outcomes-Based Financing Contracts: Contracts with governments (Lagos State, Uganda) and global health funders where payment is tied to measurable health outcomes (e.g., malaria tests administered, patients treated). Reduces costs from ~$30/patient to as low as $3.20/patient. Enables governments to pay for verified results rather than upfront grants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Free | Free POS software for all pharmacies, drug shops, and clinics |
| Freemium | Annual | Maisha ACT free for nonprofits, paid for commercial users |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Malaria: $3.20 per patient (commodities included); $84 per DALY averted; <$2,700 per death averted |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Lagos State reimburses providers at a fraction of typical costs via LASHMA |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Maisha Meds product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maisha Meds develops user-driven software used by 5,700+ private pharmacies, drug shops, and clinics across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Tanzania to manage sales, inventory, and patient records. Within the same app, it embeds opt-in patient programs for malaria, HIV, vision, and family planning that deliver subsidized care reimbursed via government and donor contracts. It also operates the Madai claims management system and the Maisha ACT antimalarial consumption analytics dashboard.
Product overview
Maisha Meds offers a unified platform combining point-of-sale business software with embedded patient support programs. The core product is the Point of Sale (POS) Software—a mobile app for drug shops, pharmacies, and clinics that works offline in low-connectivity settings. Built on top of this core platform are Patient Programs (malaria, HIV, women's health, vision) that use targeted reimbursements and AI-enhanced auditing to deliver cost-effective care. Supporting the platform are Data Insights generating real-time market intelligence from 25+ million annual patient visits, and Maisha ACT (Antimalarial Consumption Tracker)—a dedicated analytics sub-product covering 80% of Africa's antimalarial consumption across 40+ countries. The backend Madai Claims Management System handles automated claims processing with computer vision verification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Maisha ACT (Antimalarial Consumption Tracker): Africa’s first comprehensive dashboard tracking antimalarial distribution and usage across private and public sectors, covering approximately 80% of antimalarial consumption across 40+ African countries.
Products and services
- Point of Sale (POS) Software Android-based business software for drug shops, pharmacies, and clinics to track inventory, process sales, scan barcodes, manage credit, generate reports, and run daily operations. Designed for private-sector providers who often rely on pen and paper, with offline functionality for low-connectivity environments.
- Patient Programs (Malaria, HIV, Women's Health, Vision) Opt-in clinical programs embedded within the POS software covering malaria testing and treatment, HIV prevention, family planning, and vision screening, using targeted reimbursements, high-quality supply chains, and AI-enhanced auditing to deliver subsidized patient care.
- Maisha ACT (Antimalarial Consumption Tracker) Analytics dashboard product combining international pharmaceutical shipment data, donor procurement records, and last-mile pharmacy sales to track antimalarial distribution, pricing, manufacturer origin, and WHO prequalification status across African private and public sectors.
- Madai Claims Management System Backend claims processing and auditing platform that integrates with the pharmacy POS software to verify patient transactions, flag irregularities, perform photo verification, issue reimbursements, and process over 80,000 claims per month.
- Data Insights Analytics offering that translates anonymized real-time data from 25+ million annual patient visits into dashboards and market intelligence on medicines sold, geographies served, and pricing across Africa's private pharmaceutical sector.
- Tazama Vision Program Vision care program that provides free vision screenings and discounted near-vision glasses through community pharmacies, partnering with VisionSpring for affordable eyewear supply.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24% average revenue increase for pharmacies in year one of using POS software
- +12 more outcomes
Companies that use Maisha Meds
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Maisha Meds technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability4 records
Feature7 records
Maisha Meds partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
28 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- World Health Organization (WHO)coreWHO featured Maisha Meds' data in official implementation guidance on diversifying antimalarial medicines to combat drug resistance. Maisha Meds presented at WHO technical consultation in Geneva. RBM Partnership dashboard integrates Maisha ACT data.
- World BankcoreWorld Bank supported Lagos State malaria pre-elimination initiative through IMPACT project financing. Dr. Onoriode Ezire, Senior Health Specialist and Task Team Leader, directly supported the partnership.
- Ministry of Health Kenya (KE MoH)coreKenya Ministry of Health listed as partner. National Malaria Control Program leadership collaborates on data and program implementation.
- Ministry of Health Uganda (UG MoH)coreUganda Ministry of Health partnered with Global Fund and Maisha Meds for AMDIS program. Dr. Diana Atwine, Permanent Secretary, endorsed the partnership.
- Ministry of Health Tanzania (TZ MoH)coreTanzania Ministry of Health listed as partner organization. Collaborates on malaria and private sector health programs.
- National Malaria Elimination Programme Nigeria (NMEP)coreNMEP collaborated on Lagos State malaria pre-elimination initiative. Dr. Ntadom Godwin, National Coordinator, endorsed the partnership for integrating private sector into national strategy.
- Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN)corePCN collaborated on Lagos State initiative to ensure community pharmacies and PPMVs comply with regulations and deliver quality malaria care.
- Society for Family Health (SFH)majorSFH partnered on Lagos State initiative. Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, Deputy Managing Director, highlighted collaborative approach to leveraging public and private healthcare providers.
- Emory UniversitymajorAcademic partner listed on website. Collaborates on randomized controlled trial research for malaria and HIV programs.
- University of California, BerkeleymajorAcademic partner. UC Berkeley research showed Maisha Meds more than quadrupled malaria testing rates in randomized trial (from 8% to 33%).
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)majorAcademic partner listed on website. Collaborates on HIV prevention research and program design.
- University of ChicagosupportingAcademic partner listed on website.
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research CentersupportingAcademic partner listed on website.
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)majorKenyan research institution partner listed on website. Collaborates on health research and evidence generation.
- RBM Partnership to End MalariamajorRBM Partnership disseminated Maisha ACT in partnership with Maisha Meds. RBM Global Malaria Dashboard includes Maisha ACT data section. Sara Gonzalez Andino, Data Strategic Initiative Manager, endorsed the platform.
- Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)majorCHAI is developing practical guidance with Maisha Meds for Government of Uganda on scaling private-sector HIV services and implementing multiple first-line therapies for malaria.
- AuderecoreAudere provides computer vision AI for automatically scanning and verifying malaria and HIV test images submitted by pharmacies. Madai system integrates Audere's AI model to confirm reported test results against photographic evidence.
- Project Last Mile (PLM)majorPLM, a global partnership applying private sector supply chain practices to public health, conducted a rigorous stress test of Maisha Meds' supply chain operations in 2024. Benchmarked warehouse management to last-mile delivery against established African distribution networks.
- Vision SpringmajorSocial enterprise partner for 'Tazama' vision program. Vision Spring provides affordable eyewear while Maisha Meds provides software, screening integration, and program management through community pharmacies in Kenya.
- Fosun Pharma (Shanghai Henlius Biotech)supportingListed as funder/logo partner. Fosun/Guilin is captured in S&P Global data for Maisha ACT. Pharmaceutical supply partner.
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV)supportingMMV is listed among partner organizations supporting Maisha Meds.
- S&P Global Market IntelligencecoreLicenses international pharmaceutical shipment data (India, Turkey, Pakistan exports to Africa) to Maisha Meds for Maisha ACT dashboard. Key data source covering approximately 80% of antimalarial volumes on the continent.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreMaisha Meds software and server infrastructure hosted on Amazon Web Services cloud computing services, as stated in Terms of Service.
- ShopifycoreShopify platform used for pharmacy supply chain ordering system. Provides familiar e-commerce experience for pharmacies restocking medicines. Order flows through system to packing and delivery.
- Temple University (Dr. Maciej Boni)majorEpidemiologist Dr. Maciej Boni at Temple University partnered with Maisha Meds to integrate private sector data into modeling for multiple first-line therapies (MFT) to combat drug resistance.
- Lagos State Ministry of Health / LASHMAcoreLagos State government adopted Maisha Meds platform into its own budget for malaria pre-elimination, marking transition from donor-funded to government-financed care. LASHMA reimburses providers through the platform.
- Health Finance CoalitionmajorMartin Edlund from Health Finance Coalition moderated outcomes fund launch event at UNGA. Coalition supports innovative health financing approaches in Africa, of which Maisha Meds is a key implementer.
- Catholic Relief Services (CRS)supportingCRS has successfully implemented outcomes contracts in other sectors and is applying that expertise to health. Ana Ochoa from CRS shared implementation experience at outcomes fund launch event.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Maisha Meds competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- mPharma: mPharma is an African health technology company that builds pharmacy inventory management and patient program platforms for independent pharmacies across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia. It overlaps with Maisha Meds on POS-style pharmacy software, inventory financing, and outcomes-based patient programs delivered through private drug shops.
- RxAll: RxAll provides drug authentication, quality verification, and pharmacy technology in Nigeria and other African markets. It overlaps with Maisha Meds on digital tools for private pharmacies and on pharmaceutical supply chain integrity through in-pharmacy spectroscopy and verification.
- Sproxil: Sproxil offers anti-counterfeit and product authentication solutions across Africa, including pharmaceutical verification delivered via mobile to consumers and supply chain actors. It is comparable to Maisha Meds' serialization and drug-tracking features for verifying legitimate antimalarials and other commodities.
- LifeBank: LifeBank is a Nigerian health logistics company that delivers medical supplies (blood, oxygen, medicines) to hospitals and pharmacies via technology-enabled distribution. It is comparable to Maisha Meds' hub-and-spoke supply chain model delivering quality-assured commodities to private healthcare providers.
- mPedigree: mPedigree offers mobile-based product authentication and supply chain visibility for pharmaceuticals in Africa, including serialization and counterfeiting prevention. It overlaps with Maisha Meds' drug serialization and supply chain integrity capabilities.
Emerging players
- Zipline: Zipline operates drone-based medical supply delivery in several African countries (Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya). It is comparable to Maisha Meds in addressing last-mile medicine delivery to remote facilities, but uses a different logistics modality (drone vs. ground transport) and focuses on public-sector facilities more heavily.
- VillageReach: VillageReach builds supply chain and health information systems for under-served communities, with deep presence in DRC, Malawi, and other African countries. It is comparable to Maisha Meds on last-mile health logistics and government data partnerships, but as a non-profit rather than a technology company.
- Chekkit: Chekkit provides consumer product authentication, supply chain tracking, and anti-counterfeiting technology across multiple industries in Africa including pharma. It is comparable to Maisha Meds on serialization and end-to-end drug tracking, though it serves a broader consumer goods portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Helium Health: Helium Health provides EMR, hospital management, and financial software to public and private healthcare facilities across West Africa. It is comparable as a broader health-IT platform in the same geographies as Maisha Meds, though it focuses more on facility EMRs than on pharmacy POS or outcomes financing.
Regional players
- Babyl Rwanda: Babyl is a digital health platform providing telemedicine, triage, and insurance-linked services in Rwanda through partnerships with the government. It is comparable to Maisha Meds as an Africa-focused digital health provider integrated with national health systems, though it focuses on telehealth and insurance rather than pharmacy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Maisha Meds social profiles
Digital presenceMaisha Meds compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Maisha Meds financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maisha Meds leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles23 records
Maisha Meds funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maisha Meds M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maisha Meds
What does Maisha Meds do?
Maisha Meds develops user-driven software used by 5,700+ private pharmacies, drug shops, and clinics across Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Tanzania to manage sales, inventory, and patient records. Within the same app, it embeds opt-in patient programs for malaria, HIV, vision, and family planning that deliver subsidized care reimbursed via government and donor contracts. It also operates the Madai claims management system and the Maisha ACT antimalarial consumption analytics dashboard.
Is Maisha Meds a public or private company?
Maisha Meds is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Maisha Meds founded?
Maisha Meds was founded in 2017. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Maisha Meds based?
Maisha Meds is headquartered in Kisumu, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Maisha Meds make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Patient Program Reimbursements are the primary driver. The others are data & Analytics Subscriptions, hardware and Installation Services and outcomes-Based Financing Contracts.
Who are Maisha Meds's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are mPharma, RxAll, Sproxil, LifeBank and mPedigree. Emerging players are Zipline, VillageReach and Chekkit. Helium Health is listed as a broad incumbent. Babyl Rwanda is listed as a regional player.
Does Maisha Meds have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maisha Meds.
What industry is Maisha Meds in?
Maisha Meds's product category is Digital Health Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLACAKAI, Medication Inventory, Procurement & Supply Chain (Pharmacy), with a secondary code of HLACAKAL, Medication Analytics, Outcomes & Cost Optimization. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.