Haltons pharmacy has opened a branch in Addis Ababa, becoming the latest Kenyan entity to make entry into the neighbouring country.
Haltons is a subsidiary of mPharma, a patient-centered and technology-driven healthcare company.
It has 27 stores across Kenya.
The Ethiopian store is located at Sarbet, a suburb in Addis Ababa.
The entry also involves Belayab Pharmaceuticals, through a franchise agreement signed in March this year.
The new pharmacy in Ethiopia is intended to support expanded growth opportunities locally and in the region, the firms said in a statement.
As the population and economy of Ethiopia continue to grow, the the country is investing in strengthening its health systems to improve the standard of health for its people.
Powered by mPharma’s proprietary Bloom technology, the new Haltons Pharmacy in Addis Ababa is expected to provide patients with access to affordable and quality medications,mPharma management notes.
The pharmacy will also launch mutti, mPharma’s health membership programme, which provides loyal customers with discounts, free health screenings, and other primary care services.
“mPharma is deepening its long-standing commitment to Africa as a whole by increasing access to health care resources in the region. We continue to work with our retail partners to transform community pharmacies into primary care centers that provide value-added services,” said Naa Akwetey, Senior vice president, strategy and business development, at mPharma.
“We are optimistic about the future of healthcare for Ethiopians through this partnership with Belayab,” Akwetey added.
Robel Minassie, Co-founder Belayab Pharmaceuticals, said: “We look forward to making an impact in Ethiopia's health care sector working hand-in-hand with Haltons Pharmacy and mPharma.”
The opening of Haltons Pharmacies in Ethiopia is part of mPharma’s ongoing mission to build an Africa in good health by constantly shaping new health care methods to improve treatment standards for every African, it said.
“We are excited to be opening the first Haltons Pharmacy in Ethiopia and expect to do a lot more work in the near future,” said Mike Ghebru, shareholder, Belayab Pharmaceuticals.
Kenyan firms have been eying the most populous country in the region(with a population of more than 112 million people), with a major break through being by telecommunication firm-Safaricom, in July.
