(L-R) Ambrose Ngari, General Manager, Equity Corporate Branch, Dr. Dennis Ogolla, Managing Director, Equity Afya, Dr. Benson Musyoka, Pharmacist, Equity Afya Pharmacy Bruce House Nairobi CBD, Dr. Jaimini Gohil, Equity Afya Chief Pharmacist, and Tom Daktari (a Comedian and Brand Influencer) during the launch of a new pharmacy in Nairobi CBD./HAMDOUT
Access to essential medicines at the last mile is emerging as a key focus in efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, with a new community pharmacy model seeking to bring pharmaceutical services closer to patients.
The model is being rolled out through standalone community pharmacies that can operate independently of medical facilities, including through franchise ownership.
Speaking during the launch of a new Equity Afya pharmacy in Nairobi, Health Systems Strengthening Specialist Dr Benson Musyoka said access to healthcare should extend beyond consultation and diagnosis to ensure patients can obtain the medicines prescribed to them.
“Healthcare does not end when you see a doctor or when you get a prescription. It only ends when a patient has been able to receive quality and safe medicines,” Musyoka said.
He said pharmacies could help address the gap between receiving a prescription and accessing the medicines needed to complete treatment.
“We are coming in to bridge that gap. The aim is to provide that last mile in terms of provision of accessible, quality, and affordable medicines,” he said.
The Nairobi outlet is the second standalone Equity Afya community pharmacy and the first to be owned and operated by a franchisee.
The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Gates Foundation and expands Equity Afya’s pharmacy model beyond the in-house pharmacies attached to its 154 medical centres across Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sr. Denis Ogolla, Managing Director of Equity Afya, said the model would involve certified healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, in expanding community-based pharmaceutical services.
“This pharmacy at Nairobi CBD is about proximity and convenience. We have conceived a model where we’re looking at creating an ecosystem of certified health professionals—doctors, pharmacists, dentists—that will deliver accessible, affordable care throughout the entire country,” Ogolla said.
Equity Afya said it plans to expand the standalone pharmacy model across East and Central Africa, with an ambition of reaching 1,000 pharmacies in the region.
Dr Gohil Jaimini, Chief Pharmacist at Equity Afya, said the franchisee-owned outlet would complement the organisation’s existing clinic network by extending access to medicines within communities.