mPharma, an Healthtech Startup Expands African Footprint

mPharma, a Ghana health tech company, has partnered with Belayab Pharmaceuticals PLC to launch Haltons Pharmacies in Ethiopia. This will increase access to affordable and high-quality medication in the nation.

The Managing Director and Shareholder of Belayab Pharmaceuticals, Robel Minassie, reveals that the partnership is critical to assisting the Ethiopian public in accessing the highly-needed medication and medical care.

According to Robel, “Ethiopia’s healthcare needs are growing in size and complexity by the day. Hence, it is important to craft strong partnerships that move us closer to providing quality and broad healthcare coverage for the country. Belayab Pharmaceuticals is proud to be collaborating with mPharma through their Haltons subsidiary to achieve improved healthcare in the country.”

Benefits of Haltons Subsidiary to the Ethiopians

• In line with the agreement, the healthtech will deploy its technology platform, insights and extensive experience to assist Ethiopia in providing affordable medication.
• Based on the collaboration, two operational pharmacies will be developed in Addis Ababa this year, each of which will reportedly provide Mutti-mPharma’s health membership program to the patients in the nation.
• The membership will enable both the insured and uninsured patients to access subsidized medications and access financing options that offer support to the expensive burdens surrounding medication.

A Shareholder at Belayab Pharmaceuticals, Michael Ghebru, gives insight into Halton Pharmacies’ implementation in Ethiopia.

In his words, “The entrance of Haltons Pharmacy will give patients a larger selection and ease in Ethiopia through a consistent list of options at each location. In Ethiopia, pharmacies are mostly family businesses, which is one of the reasons for lack of consistent availability of drugs throughout the nation. Haltons will work as a crucial driver in delivering important drugs and products to patients throughout the country, including the underserved communities.”

mPharma

In 2013, mPharma was founded by Gregory Rockson, Daniel Shoukimas and James Finucane, with the aim to increase patient access to less expensive and high-quality medications.

Fast forward to the year 2019, the company acquired Kenya’s second-largest pharmacy chain, Haltons, and presently manages 27 pharmaceutical stores in the country.

The healthcare is operational in African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Rwanda, and Kenya, with over 300 partner pharmacies.

CEO of mPharma, Gregory Rocksons, said, “mPharma is connecting and empowering an inclusive universal medical coverage that benefits everyone in Africa by making access to healthcare affordable and safe. The company is also excited to be entering the Ethiopian market in partnership with Belayab Pharmaceuticals as it continues to build a long-standing commitment to partnerships for the good health of patients. This is an opportunity to develop a commercially-sustainable and scalable health impact in Ethiopia by improving access to quality essential medicines that will help the society-at-large so that everyone can benefit from affordable and safe treatment.”