Overview & History

Droga Pharma PLC (also known as Droga Pharma Pvt. Ltd. Co.) is a private pharmaceutical company in Ethiopia. It was founded in April 2015 by a team of healthcare professionals with experience in the pharmaceutical sector. The company is headquartered in Addis Ababa and operates nationwide, focusing on pharmaceutical import, wholesale, and retail.

Business Activities & Structure
Core Operations

Importing and distribution: The company imports and distributes medicines and healthcare products to both public and private sectors.

Pharmacy chain: It has plans to expand into a chain of pharmacies across Ethiopia.

Research & Development (R&D):

Established in 2021, the R&D department works on pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals.

Activities include formulation development (solid dosage forms, liquids, injectables, semi-solids), analytical and stability testing, bioequivalence studies, method development, calibration services, and consulting.

It also provides training and research grants to support researchers in academic institutions.

Size & Human Resources

When the company started, it had only two staff members. Today, it has grown to employ more than 400 professionals across various disciplines.

Location & Facilities

The company’s main offices are located in Addis Ababa, with additional facilities supporting research and nationwide distribution.

Strategic Ambitions & Challenges
Ambitions & Strengths

Droga Pharma aims to move beyond being just a distributor by investing in R&D and contributing to Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical self-reliance. It emphasizes innovation, local development, and capacity building, while also offering services such as consulting, analytical support, and calibration for other labs and companies.

Challenges

Like many Ethiopian pharmaceutical firms, Droga Pharma faces systemic challenges:

Limited foreign exchange for importing raw materials and equipment.

High costs of R&D and difficulties sourcing small-scale reagents.

Weak collaboration between universities and industry.

Policy incentives that are often slow or inconsistently implemented.

A general industry tendency to prioritize short-term survival over long-term R&D investment.

Recent Developments

In recent years, Droga Pharma has been expanding its workforce, with vacancies for pharmacists and other roles. The company continues to strengthen its R&D capabilities and grow its presence in the Ethiopian healthcare market.