A new health technology platform, Zamda Health, was unveiled in Lagos on Monday, September 22, 2025, promising a major shake-up in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical landscape.
The startup aims to tackle the long-standing challenges of counterfeit drugs and limited access to genuine medications through a comprehensive digital ecosystem.
The service has already been rolled out to pharmacies in Lagos and Enugu, with plans for wider expansion.
Speaking at the launch event, Zamda Health co-founder Mr. Sunday Emmanuel shared the personal frustration that inspired the platform’s creation. He recounted a difficult experience trying to refill a prescription for a simple dietary supplement, which required him to drive across the city searching for a pharmacy that stocked the product.
This inefficiency, he explained, sparked the idea to build a system where Nigerians could easily search for and order medications online for either delivery or in-store pickup.
The Zamda Health Ecosystem
Zamda Health is built on three core products designed to connect patients, pharmacies, and healthcare professionals. At the heart of the system is the Zamda Point of Sale (POS), a cloud-based tool that allows pharmacists to manage their inventory seamlessly. This system not only digitizes stock and sales but also includes features like expiry alerts, multi-branch synchronization, and AI-driven restocking.
For consumers, the Zamda Mobile App offers a user-friendly way to order both prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Users can compare prices, choose between delivery and pickup, and access a suite of AI-powered services. These include instant drug interaction checks, allergy detection, and even online consultations, all aimed at empowering patients with reliable information.
Completing the trio is Zamda AI, an artificial intelligence tool that provides immediate and accurate answers to medical queries, offering information on drug usage, potential interactions, and safety warnings.
This integrated approach positions Zamda Health as an all-in-one solution for improving access to quality healthcare.
A Commitment to Safety and Authenticity
A key focus of Zamda Health is ensuring the authenticity of all medications on the platform. According to Mr. Emmanuel, every drug listed is cross-referenced with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) database to prevent fake or expired products from entering the supply chain.
For controlled substances, the platform requires patients to upload a valid prescription, which is then reviewed by licensed doctors before the order is approved.
Pharmacies can join the Zamda Health network for an annual subscription fee starting from ₦12,000.
The company is also offering various POS packages with monthly subscriptions and discounted yearly plans.
To encourage early adoption, Zamda Health has introduced significant incentives, including a 50% discount on the activation fee for the first 100 pharmacies and a similar discount on subscriptions for the first 50 members of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN).
The startup’s leadership team, which includes Emmanuel Ekwealor, Hillary Ekwealor, Ugwuanyi Jude, and Adekunle Otitoloju, believes the technology can bridge critical gaps, particularly in underserved rural communities.
As Mr. Emmanuel stated,
“We want to reach the villages where people have the money to buy drugs but cannot find them nearby. Zamda Health will bridge that gap.”
With its entry into Nigeria’s rapidly expanding digital health market, Zamda Health aims to connect all stakeholders on a single platform, ultimately fighting the counterfeit drug menace that has plagued the nation’s healthcare system for decades.
