In a bold move to reshape healthcare access for underserved populations, Axmed, a Health-tech social impact company, unveiled its groundbreaking Axmed Medicines Platform and hosted its inaugural Axmed Access Summit on February 6th, 2025.
The summit, themed “Unlocking Access, Transforming Lives,” brought together global leaders, innovators, and changemakers to discuss and develop actionable strategies for overcoming the systemic barriers that limit healthcare access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The Axmed Medicines Platform is designed to address the significant challenges faced by LMICs in accessing life-saving medicines. By leveraging technology and an innovative business model, Axmed seeks to eliminate inefficiencies in the healthcare procurement process, which disproportionately affect these regions. The platform aggregates demand from healthcare providers, governments, and hospitals, providing unprecedented purchasing power while enabling suppliers to scale sustainably in untapped markets.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 80% of global population growth over the next decade will occur in LMICs—regions that already bear 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 empowering buyers with efficiency, affordability, and access to high-quality medicines while helping suppliers expand their reach in underserved markets.”
The platform has already engaged more than 60 leading organizations, including global pharmaceutical manufacturers, governments, and major logistics companies, to help enhance access to high-quality medicines.
A key focus of the Axmed Medicines Platform is improving Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Nigeria. The initiative has received support from the Gates Foundation and venture backer Founderful to drive systemic change in these regions.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Health, Dr. Deborah Barasa, emphasized the importance of addressing maternal and newborn deaths, which remain significant challenges for families and the nation. She also highlighted the role of innovation-driven partnerships, noting that “Prioritizing innovation across the healthcare value chain is essential for delivering care at scale.” Dr. Barasa further stated, “We strongly believe in partnerships that truly empower our country to serve more patients with greater efficiency and impact.”
In addition to unveiling its platform, the Axmed Access Summit catalyzed collaboration and partnership-building. The summit fostered dialogue among healthcare, technology, and policy leaders, to develop sustainable solutions to close the healthcare access gaps in LMICs.
“Our platform alone can’t solve these challenges. True transformation requires collaboration and shared accountability,” said Akpakwu. “The summit fosters partnerships that will chart a clear path for collective impact in advancing equitable healthcare access.”
Axmed’s approach to procurement is revolutionizing the way buyers, suppliers, logistics providers, and enablers interact in LMIC markets. For buyers, the platform has enabled significant savings on pharmaceuticals and logistics, with over 25% reductions reported by government entities, NGOs, and faith-based organizations. For suppliers, the platform simplifies the procurement process, improving transparency and ensuring that medicines reach the most remote areas.
Strategic partnerships with logistics companies such as Kuehne + Nagel, CEVA Logistics, and local providers ensure that essential medicines reach underserved regions, while collaborations with global pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer, Sanofi, and GSK, as well as local innovators like Dawa Life Sciences and Emzor, continue to drive the platform’s success.
Axmed’s holistic approach, backed by key partnerships with organizations like the Gates Foundation, is setting a new standard for transparency and efficiency in healthcare procurement. The company’s focus on lowering costs while improving healthcare systems marks a pivotal step toward achieving healthcare equity globally.
“Our mission is not just about reducing costs,” said Akpakwu. “It’s about improving lives, strengthening healthcare systems, and ensuring that high-quality treatments are accessible to all, especially those in underserved communities. This is only the beginning, and we are committed to scaling this vision with partners who share our mission.”
