Zainab Nimma Sani is a Nigerian pharmacist, health economist, and supply chain rising star, passionate about improving access to essential medicines through data-driven innovation. A graduate of the University of Jos with a Bachelor of Pharmacy and a Master’s in Health Economics from Bayero University Kano, she is also pursuing an MBA in Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business. Her professional experience spans pharmaceutical sales, strategic operations, and supply-chain optimisation, including work with Novartis managing key accounts in northern Nigeria. In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Sani shares how her industry experience, research and publications explore integrating AI and analytics into pharmaceutical supply chains and pricing systems to enhance efficiency, affordability, and equity in drug access across both Nigerian and U.S. healthcare contexts. Read the full text of the interview below:
Your global recognition by the CEO of Novartis as a recipient of the 2022 Novartis CEO Field Award, with your recent admission to the MBA programme at Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business position you as a rising leader in healthcare innovation. Let’s dive into the critical topic of pharmacy supply chain in Africa. Can you share your perspective on the current challenges in ensuring equitable patient access to medications in this region?
Thank you, for having me. The pharmacy supply chain in Africa faces significant hurdles, including fragmented logistics, limited infrastructure, and regulatory complexities. These challenges often result in stockouts, counterfeit drugs, and delayed deliveries, particularly impacting rural communities. My experience at Novartis, where I improved patient access year on year through integrated strategies, showed me that a robust supply chain is vital for healthcare delivery. Addressing these issues requires innovative solutions and strategic partnerships.
As an experienced superintendent pharmacist with expertise in supply chain optimisation, and your upcoming MBA focused on supply chain management, how do you plan to apply this knowledge to tackle these regional challenges?
I’m thrilled about the opportunity to deepen my supply chain expertise through my MBA. I envision optimising end-to-end processes, from demand forecasting to last-mile delivery, to enhance patient access in Africa. During my time as an operations manager in community pharmacy practice, I streamlined inventory to minimise stockouts, boosting sales by over 50 percent. Scaling this regionally would involve using data-driven tools to predict demand and ensure timely delivery of critical medications, like those in the cardio-renal franchise I managed at Novartis. My MBA will equip me to design efficient, scalable systems tailored to the region’s needs.
Your work at Novartis earned you the prestigious CEO Award for improving access to medication and increasing revenue in Africa. How has this recognition fueled your passion for enhancing patient access, and how does it inspire your MBA journey?
The Novartis CEO Award was a pivotal moment that solidified my commitment to healthcare equity. Leading initiatives that doubled primary health center coverage and improved affordability through high-level negotiations was incredibly rewarding. This recognition drives my passion to pursue an MBA, where I can gain the strategic tools to scale such impact across Sub-Saharan Africa. The award inspires me to address systemic gaps, ensuring millions gain access to essential medications, and my MBA will amplify my ability to achieve this vision.
You’ve expressed interest in leveraging AI in your MBA studies. With your technical skills, how do you see AI transforming the pharmacy supply chain to improve patient access in Africa?
AI holds immense potential to revolutionise the pharmacy supply chain. With my MBA, I plan to explore AI-driven tools for demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, and logistics planning. For instance, AI can analyse consumption patterns and epidemiological data to predict medication needs in remote areas, reducing stockouts. My experience with Salesforce at Novartis, where I enhanced operational excellence, shows how data-driven systems improve efficiency. AI could also enable blockchain-based traceability to combat counterfeit drugs, ensuring patients receive authentic medications. My MBA will help me harness these technologies effectively.
Your Novartis experience involved enrolling new drug molecules into Nigeria’s health insurance scheme, improving affordability and accessibility. How will your MBA training in supply chain management help you replicate this success across Africa?
My MBA will provide the strategic framework to replicate and scale successes like those at Novartis. By mastering supply chain strategies, I can design localised distribution networks and foster public-private partnerships to streamline regulatory processes, as I did in Nigeria. For example, my work growing Novartis’ cardio-renal franchise in Northern Nigeria relied on targeted market strategies. With AI-driven logistics and cross-functional collaboration learned through my MBA, I can adapt these approaches to diverse healthcare systems across Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring equitable access.
Your passion for patient access shines through your volunteering in the 8th Mile and Focus on the Family Foundation. How does your volunteer work complement your professional goals, especially as you embark on your MBA?
My work with the 8th Mile and Focus on the Family Foundation, focused on family and community health, keeps me connected to the human impact of supply chain inefficiencies—families unable to access medications due to systemic barriers. This fuels my drive to pursue an MBA, where I can learn to design resilient supply chains. My volunteer experience inspires community-based distribution models, where local health workers use AI tools to manage inventory and report shortages. This synergy motivates me to create sustainable solutions through my MBA studies.
With your MBA journey just beginning, what is your long-term vision for transforming the pharmacy supply chain in Africa, and how will your education and AI expertise drive this change?
My vision is a patient-centric supply chain where every individual in Africa has timely access to affordable, high-quality medications. My MBA will provide strategic and analytical skills to design scalable systems, while AI will enable real-time optimisation and adaptability. I see a network of smart distribution hubs powered by AI analytics, ensuring access even in remote areas. The Novartis CEO Award showed me the power of aligning innovation with collaboration, and my MBA will empower me to reduce healthcare disparities, making quality care a reality for millions.ni
Thank you for this opportunity. I’m excited to leverage my MBA to drive meaningful change in healthcare access.
