African pharmacies have potential as the next frontier in primary care

When people think of health care innovation, they imagine billion-dollar labs in Boston or precision robotics in Toronto. But the next practical breakthrough may be far humbler and closer to home. In Africa, it could start in a pharmacy on a busy street in Abuja, Accra, or Nairobi.

The continent faces health care deserts. Clinics are hours away, hospitals are overstretched, and treatable illnesses often become emergencies. Yet one reliable piece of infrastructure frequently exists even in remote settlements: the local pharmacy. Open, trusted, and embedded in daily life, community pharmacies could become the next frontier of primary care.

Across Africa, pharmacies are often the first point of care. With modest investments and smarter regulations, these familiar shops could evolve into decentralized health hubs offering teleconsultations, basic diagnostics, chronic care follow-ups, vaccinations, and secure medicine dispensing. In effect, they could provide primary care where people live, work, and shop.