SMS Pharma is a service that provides up-to-date information on local health providers (hours of operation) and availability of medicines. Micro-workers supply the required information. Users access the information through SMS, voice or an app. The service is scalable and can be adapted globally. We launched part of the service in Senegal. Users can get information on pharmacies that are open in 8 cities using SMS. We want to expand to more cities and countries and scale with micro-workers.

1. SMS Pharma: Locate Health
Providers and Medicine
in Developing Countries
SMS Pharma provides information
on health providers that are open
and medications that are in stock
Micro-workers supply up-to-date
information
SMS + Voice + App

2. Problem
• Scenario 1: Mamadou's child is having a high fever and needs
immediate medical attention but he does not know if the clinic
across town is open late at night. How can he find this information?
• Scenario 2: Aminata did not fill out her last medication
prescription. She was out of insulin on a weekend. Where can she
find insulin?
• Access to health information, access to health care, and
prevention: these are common words when talking about health in
developing countries. It is difficult to find reliable information on the
location and operating hours of health providers (e.g. hospitals,
clinics, pharmacies). In addition, it is not obvious to know what
medications they have in stock.

3. Solution

SMS Pharma

Micro-workers supply up-to-date information on local health
providers (location and operation hours)

Micro-workers answer to broadcasted messages about
availability of medication

A (premium) SMS service, an IVR system and a mobile app
provide the requested information to users

We reach people comfortable with SMS and apps, and the one who
are more comfortable with voice systems

4. Users
• Everybody
• Health professional and facilities
• Health government agencies

5. Cloud SMS
Short Code
Micro-workers How It Works Voice Server
App

Micro-workers supply up-to-date information by SMS (location, operation
hours and medication availability)

Micro-workers are paid a small amount of money for each submission

Multiple submissions from separate micro-workers verify the accuracy of
information

Random calls to health facilities are made to verify the accuracy of
information
Users

Users submit queries on their phone with SMS to a short code or call a
specific number

ex. pharma dakar, medi insulin dakar to 12345 short code

Users can access information through a mobile app

Service charges users a small amount of money for each query

Server returns information to users immediately

6. How It Works
Location & Operation Hours
Date: 3/3/2012
Query: pharma dakar
Micro-workers Server Users
Pharmacies X, Y and Z
in Dakar are open from Answer: X, Y and Z are
8 am to 11 pm on open from 8 am to 11
Sunday 3/3/2012 pm on Sunday
3/3/2012
SMS SMS or Voice

7. How It Works
Medication Availability
Broadcast to
micro-workers
Date: 3/3/2012
Micro-workers Query: medi insulin
Micro-workers dakar
Micro-workers
Micro-workers
Server Users
Micro-workers
Answer: insulin is
Pharma X carries available at medi in
insulin in Dakar Dakar Center 1
SMS SMS or Voice

8. How it Works?
App
Enter your city:
Pharmacies open in St
St Louis Louis on 4/1/2012:
Pharmacy Soleil
Enter the facility: Sun Street
Phone: 77 888 0000
Pharmacy Dr. Sall
Submit Pharmacy Dakar
Main Street
Phone: 77 877 0000
Dr. Dieng

9. Advantages

Saving lives and improving health all together!

We are reaching users who are using their phones in different ways: SMS,
voice, and apps

SMS and Voice work on all mobile devices without the need of applications or
smartphones

Users receive results instantaneously

Users save time and money (i.e. no need to drive or take a taxi to find a
health facility that is open)

Little learning curve

Many users already know how to send SMS

Users know how to call someone

The mobile application is simple to use

Service can be used to broadcasting health information for prevention (e.g.
malaria awareness and anti-tobacco campaigns)

Data gathered can be used by health professionals (e.g., medication the
most requested) and organizations (e.g., health government agencies)

This solution is scalable, sustainable and adaptable in different countries

10. Revenue Model
• Premium SMS / voice for users
• Mobile app with advertising
• Sponsored advertising in SMS
• E.g., pharmacies and drug companies
• For each SMS received on the network, the operators
generally allow 2 SMS to be sent back. One of the SMS is
used for advertising.
• Sponsored campaigns
• E.g., malaria awareness, HIV/Aids prevention and anti-
tobacco campaigns
• Selling the data and reports to health organizations to
change health policies and improve access to health

11. Existing Solution to Future Solution
Growth using Micro-Workers
We want to expand our existing solution and want to
use micro-workers to bring it to scale

12. Existing Solution and Future

We launched SMS Pharma in Senegal in
June 2011 for users to know what
pharmacies are open on nights and
week-end

We are covering 8 cities: Thiès, Dakar (2
neighborhoods), Mbour, Tivaouane,
Saly, Tamba, Kaolack, and St Louis

Information is gathered from pharmacist
on a weekly, 3-month or 1-year basis

This model is currently NOT based on
micro-work. Micro-workers would permit
scalability.

Our goal is also to expand to more
health facilities and also to other Senegal
countries. We also want to add the
component on the availability of
medications.

13. What pharmacy is open on evenings and weekends?
(in French)

14. Existing Solution to Future Solution
Growth using Micro-Workers
We want to expand our existing solution and want to
use micro-workers to bring it to scale