MyDAWA bets big on LegitScript Endorsement for its expansion drive

By Steve UMIDHA

Online pharmacy MyDAWA says it is eyeing entry into other urban towns across the country, barely weeks after being awarded LegitScript Certification – a recognized global stamp of approval for healthcare and eyewear merchants, as well as addiction treatment providers.

The e-drugstore and supply chain solutions Chief executive Tony Wood told Financial Fortune (Media) that the e-health platform would commence operations in Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu, Nakuru and other urban towns and later rural areas in its bid to grow countrywide presence.

“We were recently awarded LegitScript Certification, so we are one of the top 4 percent online pharmacists globally.

So for us, we are everywhere basically as an online service provider, we are currently delivering services within Nairobi and its environs,” Mr. Wood said, adding that the company will keenly utilize the recently attained Sh300 million ($3 million) funding from Africa HealthCare Master Fund for its expansion drive.

Without giving fixed timelines, Wood says MyDAWA would “start to look at that by year end and early next year” with a long-term spread out plan across the region in the future to countries with growth potential.

More significantly for the firm has been the procurement of LegitScript Certification, which means MyDAWA can now fully participate on online advertising, e-commerce, and payment processing programs with minimal disruptions – joining the league of few other global companies that are LegitScript certified.

In its current form, the LegitScript certification presently offers Healthcare Merchant Certification (for pharmacies, telemedicine providers, and other healthcare merchants), iCareRX Certification for eyewear merchants and Addiction Treatment Certification, with this category meant for drug and alcohol addiction treatment providers.

It is this crucial endorsement, coupled with investor confidence as well as positive consumer receptiveness that the company is betting big on to drive its growth agenda not only in the country but also regionally.

“What we do, is we provide accessibility and guaranteed good quality products to our consumer and we do not want to keep within Kenya, it is something we want to expand across the region,” he said.

Launched in 2017, the firm’s boss Mr. Wood says the 2017- an electioneering period for Kenya, was purely a learning curve for MyDAWA, an era, he said the company took upon itself to ‘fix some of its internal problems’ before stretching its muscle.

“So 2017 for us was a year of learning, to fix some of the internal problems we knew we had, everybody launches before they are ready to expand, so we took that opportunity to fix that. So what we have seen is good solid growth through 2018 and we have started to really see things pick up as we come to 2019, and I think it takes time,” opens up the soft-spoken Scottish who honed his IT skills in his previous undertakings with ISP firms before joining MyDAWA.

“Customer service is what we are about, we take quality of the products and service the trust grew over time and gave as solid foundation for growth,” he says.

He credits the company’s growth thus far to quality of service it offers its customers as well as reliability on products’ pricing. “On average we are about 20 per cent affordable compared to what you’d ordinarily find with other retailers.”

“We are not just a business out here existing to make a buck, but to make a difference, to deliver the kind of service the customer expects and over achieve that expectation.”

“Users of the platform are assured of genuine medicines and products as the application has secured the entire supply chain by getting medicines and other products directly from manufacturers and branded drugs that are made by World Health Organization (WHO) approved centres, tackling the counterfeit issue in the market.

He says to assure legitimacy of the products, a unique track and trace mechanism have also been put in place to allow users to authenticate merchandises through the app with a QR code or SMS to verify its source and genuineness.

Further, all products and medicines are secured with tamper proof seals that contain the scratch to reveal authentication code.

“Additionally, convenience is a key attraction for busy people – everything you want is delivered free and quickly and all medicines are delivered by qualified professionals,” says Mr. Wood.

To date, MyDAWA works closely with over 200 registered pharmacies across the country with the online pharmacy today signed up more than 80,000 registered users and over 100,000 downloads as of last month with the number swiftly rising.

“We want to continue with that growth, but what I am looking at is how and who is going to benefit from our service, which is my keen focus at the moment. We will do a lot of things in the coming months, we have very strong growth ambition,” he concludes, saying MyDAWA has been his most fulfilling job yet.

 

Who is Tony Wood?

-Current CEO, MyDAWA since 2017

-Background: Technology

-Specialties: Business Leadership and Management, Business Transformation, Management Consultancy,
Growth Leadership, Strategic Sales and Client Relationship Development, Managed Services and Outsourcing Solution Development.

-Marital Status: Married to a Kenyan. Blessed with kids. Has been living in Kenya since 2010

-AGE: “I am not as young as I used to be”

-Ambition for MyDAWA: “To be a recognizable brand for good quality affordable medication globally”

-In Spare-time: Wood enjoys to travel but is ‘always working’ checking reports and the likes

-Parting shot: I would not want to part ways with this company, it is one firm I helped launch and I admire my boss. MyDAWA was founded by Neil O’Leary, who is also the firm’s chairman.

 

N/B

MyDAWA received an initial $5M investment from Irish investor who is also the Founder and Chairman Neil O’Leary.

“Our goal at MYDAWA has always been to be trusted partner for busy Kenyans by a providing convenient, private access to authentic medication and wellness products at very good value,” O’Leary.