Inspiration
The idea for this app came from observing how many people in Sudan struggle to find essential medicines, especially in crowded or remote areas. Often, patients or their families go from one pharmacy to another searching for a specific drug, wasting precious time and potentially risking the patient's health. This inspired me to develop a smart application that uses geolocation technology to help users find the nearest pharmacy where the needed medicine is available
What it does
The application helps users in Sudan easily find the medicine they need by using their current location. By entering the name of the required drug, the app automatically identifies the user's position using OpenStreetMap and displays a list of nearby pharmacies where the medicine is available, along with the pharmacy name and the available quantity. It saves users time and effort, especially in emergencies or when searching for hard-to-find medications.
How we built it
I started by designing the UI and defining the app's core features. I used OpenStreetMap to detect the user’s current location and display nearby pharmacies. I built a database that stores medicine names and their available quantities at each pharmacy. I developed a smart search algorithm that matches the medicine name and shows the closest pharmacies where it's available. The app displays only the pharmacy name and the quantity of the medicine available, with no contact details, to keep the interface clean and focused
Challenges we ran into
Ensuring accurate integration of location data with search results, and avoiding irrelevant or distant results. Difficulty in testing the app in areas with weak internet coverage, which is common in parts of Sudan. The challenge of simplifying the user interface to make it accessible even to users with little or no tech background — a fun and rewarding experience.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Successfully integrated OpenStreetMap to detect user location and visualize nearby pharmacies. Built a clean, fast, and easy-to-use UI using Flutter. Developed a custom search algorithm that connects medicine availability with geolocation filtering. Created a lightweight and responsive application that works well even in areas with limited internet. Addressed a real-life problem that affects people’s health and daily lives, especially in underserved regions.
What we learned
Throughout the development of this project, I gained valuable technical and practical experience: How to use Flutter to build a complete mobile app with a smooth and attractive interface. How to work with OpenStreetMap to display maps and detect the user's location. How to integrate a database to store medicine and pharmacy information. Improved my skills in designing a simple and user-friendly user experience (UX) for all age groups
What's next for application to search for medicines using location
Add a user feedback system to report incorrect availability or suggest updates. Allow pharmacies to update stock directly through a dedicated portal or admin panel. Implement offline functionality, so users can search even when temporarily disconnected from the internet. Introduce push notifications for when a medicine becomes available nearby. Expand the database to more regions across Sudan, with the possibility of scaling to other countries facing similar challenges. Collaborate with local health authorities to enhance data accuracy and reliability
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