Rewards programme launched by Ghana’s Redbird in wake of funding round, passes 400 pharmacy mark

Redbird, which was launched in 2018, allows patients to access their digital health information through five-minute tests available at community pharmacies. Its pharmacy platform, which includes 10 quick diagnostics, is presently available in over 350 community pharmacies.

The results are kept in a user’s own Redbird health record, which patients may access through their smartphone or at any partner drugstore. The team also hopes to provide clinicians access to these health records with patients’ permission, allowing doctors to get a fuller picture of a patient’s medical history.

The Imperial Venture Fund helped the firm secure a US$1.5 million seed round in March, with participation from Johnson & Johnson Foundation and Newtown Partners, which it claimed will be used to help it expand.

It is achieving exactly that, with 49 additional pharmacies added to its network in the second quarter, bringing the total number of pharmacies in the network to 400 for the first time. Redbird has also seen over 150,000 tests entered into its system and has a total of 45,000 patients.

“With every month we get closer to our goal of never being more than five minutes from your nearest Redbird Pharmacy,” the startup said.

Meanwhile, in April, the company launched Redcoins, a new feature on its pharmacy app.

“Every time a pharmacy staff inputs test data into the system, they earn Coins, which can be redeemed for rewards from Redbird swag to airtime to lunch for the pharmacy,” the startup said.

“Our pilot was successful with increased engagement, especially at lower-volume pharmacies, and we launched the full programme in May. Since May, over three million coins have been earned by pharmacy staff.”

In addition, Redbird has established a partnership with MTN to give free access to Redbird Apps to pharmacy customers and patients.

“This is a great step forward in removing barriers to all patients accessing Redbird services having their results saved to their own personal health record and being able to share their health history no matter where they go in the healthcare system. And for our pharmacy customers on MTN, it’s one less thing to worry about managing during their busy day,” the startup said.