Grace Ashiru
Field, a Nigerian healthtech company, has developed a route-to-market service aimed at introducing innovative solutions to maternal mortality, infant and child health, and nutrition challenges.
Supported by an initial investment of $11 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the program will leverage Field’s proprietary technology, distribution network, and financial capabilities.
Currently, this initiative powers more than 40,000 healthcare providers—both private and public—in rural and urban areas of Kenya and Nigeria.
Founded in 2015 by Michael Moreland and Justin Lorenzo, Field began as a pharmaceutical supply chain provider in Nigeria and Kenya, with the mission of transforming the pharmaceutical value chain.
Michael Moreland, CEO and Founder of Field, emphasized that using digital technology to enhance, connect, and finance health systems at scale will greatly improve access to quality care. He noted that the support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will enable the company to accelerate efforts to enhance maternal and child survival in various contexts.
Field’s service will provide expectant mothers in Africa access to new medications, such as heat-stable carbetocin and calibrated drapes that identify and treat postpartum hemorrhage, which is the leading cause of maternal mortality on the continent. Additionally, it will expedite the adoption of these new treatments, complement traditional medicines, and address related issues like preeclampsia.
Moreland pointed out that while progress has been made in healthcare delivery, the current economic climate could hinder advancements without unified systems and processes. He stressed that the company’s mission is to tackle these challenges.
The company’s distribution service, Shelf Life, reportedly distributes over 3,000 high-quality products across more than 50 therapeutic areas, reaching over 2,500 pharmacies and hospitals in 24 cities in Nigeria and Kenya. This includes government facilities, major hospital systems, retail chains, insurance companies, and family-owned drugstores.
The platform also offers trade financing solutions for priority therapies and equipment, addressing the financial constraints that often hinder investment in groundbreaking medical procedures.
