Zambian Startup Crowned Best Health Innovation in the World
Zambian startup Duniya Healthcare has achieved a historic milestone by being crowned the 2025 Global Champion in Health and Wellbeing at the prestigious World Summit Awards (WSA), held in Hyderabad, India. The win marks a first for Zambia—and the African continent—at the WSA’s 20th global competition.
The WSA, a United Nations-backed initiative, recognizes digital innovations that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Duniya Healthcare stood out among global finalists from Australia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam with its tech-driven pharmaceutical logistics platform, which is transforming medicine delivery across Zambia.
“This award affirms the work our team has put into transforming pharmaceutical supply chains across the continent,” said Mwansa Chalo, CEO and founder of Duniya Healthcare. “Our mission has always been clear—no African should die due to lack of access to essential medicines.”
The startup connects health facilities and pharmacies with pharmaceutical wholesalers via a digital platform. In 2024, it partnered with the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) and Africa Health and Economic Transformation Institute (AHETI) to digitize procurement for rural mission hospitals. This initiative has already delivered 37% in cost savings on medicines and logistics.
Duniya Healthcare’s win makes it the first Zambian innovation to reach the WSA Global Top 40, and the only African company to win a Global Champion title this year.
With this international recognition, Duniya Healthcare has not only elevated Zambia’s profile in the global innovation space but also proven the power of African-led solutions to deliver real-world impact.
