A Patient-Focused Pharmaceutical Distribution Framework for Urban Underserved Communities in Rapidly Expanding Cities

Urbanization in low- and middle-income countries is outpacing the evolution of public health infrastructure, particularly in pharmaceutical distribution to underserved urban communities. This study presents a patient-focused pharmaceutical distribution framework tailored for these rapidly growing urban contexts. Drawing on a combination of field surveys, stakeholder interviews, and simulation modeling, the framework addresses key access barriers such as logistical fragmentation, affordability, digital divide, and regulatory constraints. The proposed model integrates decentralized distribution nodes, mobile health technologies, and community health worker engagement to enhance medication accessibility, adherence, and patient satisfaction. Findings from three pilot cities Lagos, Nairobi, and Dhaka demonstrate improvements in last-mile delivery efficiency and patient-centric care metrics. The framework aligns with global health equity goals and offers practical pathways for scalable, sustainable pharmaceutical supply chain innovations in rapidly urbanizing environments.