Catching a glimpse of Julius Sseninde may trigger one to think that he is just an ordinary 22 year old graduate who is set to hit the streets and hunt for a well paying job like all other Ugandan graduates do. However, a minute or two with him will take all these thoughts away.
Sseninde, who has just completed a Diploma in pharmacy at UIAHMS – Mulago (Mulago Paramedical) has initiated the concept of a portable pharmacy that can be carried in one’s palm or pocket. He has designed a phone application dubbed E-Pine Pharmacy to sell prescription and over the counter medicines at retail and wholesale prices.
This application, he says, is currently operating on the Android Operating System. However, he is yet to release the Apple IOS version and a website to diversify the market for these medicines. Our reporter, Shadrach Kolya caught up with him for an exclusive interview on this wonderful innovation in the health sector.
Tell me about yourself.
I am Julius Sseninde, only 22 years old and have just finalized with my diploma in Pharmacy at UIAHMS-Mulago (Mulago Paramedical).
What is E-Pine Pharmacy all about?
E- Pine Pharmacy is an online pharmacy that I designed with two others to bring the pharmacy to people’s phones. It sells both prescription and over the counter medicines at retail and wholesale prices and can be accessed on the Android Operating System though we are working tooth and nail to ensure that we cover other operating systems and design a website as well.
So what actually inspired you to bring this innovation on board to the health sector?
First and foremost, people get stuck with prescriptions and don’t know where to get their medicines and we came to solve that problem. Secondly, some pharmacies are expensive and exploit patients, so we came to solve that since our prices are cheaper. Finally, it’s convenient in that you don’t need to be in the line and wait. You just have to order and the medicines get delivered to you.
Talking of deliveries, how do you make the deliveries whenever the patients order for medicines through the application?
We have a motorcycle that we acquired and we are using that for the start.
When did you actually launch this online pharmacy and what has been the response rate so far? Have you sold any medicines through it and what are the reactions of the public towards this innovation?
We launched it last month. We have made a few sales since it’s still new and most of the people haven’t got to know about it. The public has been positive according to the feedback we get and we just need to push it so that it reaches more people.
Designing an app such as this requires enormous ICT expertise, and you said you studied a diploma in Pharmacy. So should I say you have a formidable ICT team behind this innovation or you posses the skills yourself?
We are a team of four people and I am the head. We have an IT guy on the team called Wagana Ale and he is the one who designed the app. Others include Asimwe Herbert (Diploma in Pharmacy) and Seremba John (still in school pursuing a diploma in pharmacy).
What you have actually done is more like using ICT as a tool to extend services nearer to people who need them. Somehow, do you feel that your target market is only people with smart phones and computers and not the poor?
You’re right. Our target market is actually people who have access to smart phones as of now. However, we are still thinking in the boardroom on how we can use SMS to reach people who can’t access smart phones.
So you’re 22 years old and you’ve come up with this, and there are people who are 26 years and over and yet still languishing in unemployment while applying and waiting for jobs. What advice do you have for such youth?
They should look at the problems around them and maximize them into opportunities and should not fear to start. Secondly, they should not only focus on what they get from campus (degree or diploma) but should also think of solving societal problems
You can try out his app here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waglex.epinepharm
