Quality healthcare is a very important and desirable aspect of life. It is something every human being is entitled to. To this testament, there are pharmaceutical companies in Ghana providing quality healthcare medications and improving the quality of life of Ghanaian people.
Let us take a look at some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies that operate in the Ghanaian industry. This is in no particular order.
Top 5 pharmaceutical companies in Ghana
All these companies focus on providing quality healthcare medications through researching, developing, bringing new medicines, and producing standard medications that already exist that improve health and quality of life for patients around the world.
Kinapharma Limited
Kinapharma Limited is a Ghanaian owned and operated pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution and marketing company established in 1996. Kinapharma provides quality, reliable and affordable drugs for the health of the masses.
History and background
The Journey of one of Ghana’s largest pharmaceutical companies started with Pharmacist Kofi Nsiah-Poku, a former staff of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, former World Health Organization (WHO) adviser on ACT (Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy – a malaria treatment technique) and Industrialist and Marketing Man of the Year Ghana.
During his years studying Pharmacy in the University, Kofi Nsiah-Poku started making and distributing simple pharmaceutical preparations and suspensions and had a full-fledged homegrown dispensary and shop not long after graduation (under appropriate licenses).
Pharmaceutical companies in Ghana providing quality healthcare medications
While he was at the university, Kofi Nsiah began his first pharmacy shop. After five years he left the campus to concentrate on building Kinapharma. He began growing his business with a series of retail pharmacies as well as continuing to grow the list of self-made preparations and syrups.
He also became a distributor for popular imported essential brands including Janseen and Ayrton Saunders. In 1998 Nsiah-Poku relocated the business from Kumasi to Accra to start a factory.
Kinapharma products
Kinapharma products have over the years quickly developed into household names following the growing acceptance of the highly efficacious essential drugs the company produced. Kinapharma now produces over 150 different medications including pain killers, anti-hypertensives, anti-diabetics, anti-malarial drugs, antacids and many others.
Currently headquartered in Accra, Ghana, the company has offices, warehouses and staff throughout the country as well as neighboring countries like: Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Kinapharma is also a leading supplier of most essential drugs to the Ministries of Health of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, etc.
The company continues to make a substantive difference to the average Ghanaian’s general well-being and to the economy as a whole presently employing almost 500 staff directly and many more as distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
Das Pharmaceutical Company
DAS pharmaceutical company was created by the merger of three giants in the pharmaceutical manufacturing business, namely; Dannex Limited, which was established in 1964, Ayrton Drug Manufacturing Limited, which was incorporated in 1965 and Starwin Products Limited, which was formed in 1960.
A bit of history
After successfully merging their operations, the company officially became “Dannex Ayrton Starwin PLC” which was incorporated on December19, 2019 and subsequently listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange on January 15, 2020 under the trade name DASPHARMA.
Through the consolidation of the manufacturing of assets, human capital, distribution and sales channels, as well as financial capabilities, the creation of Dannex Ayrton Starwin Plc., offers a more efficient and profitable pharmaceutical company. The company is currently staffed with over 600 employees. Due to the nature of its inception, DAS Pharmaceutical Company has one of the largest distributive networks in the industry.
Products
With access to over 2,000 active wholesale and retail customers who are supplied with over 80 different products under the company’s brand all manufactured in Ghana. The ranges of products are categorized under the following: Analgesics, Hematinics (blood tonics), anti-tussives (cough suppressants), dermatological (skin care) products, anti-convulsing and anti-asthmatics.
Some of the company’s key selling products include: Koffex ,Virol, Samalin, Teeder , Durol, ORS, Rapinol, Asmadrin and Milk of Magnesia. Most of these are market leading products that are bestsellers in their field.
The company boasts a strong Research and Development team which continues to develop cutting edge products for the nation’s health needs. The Team continually scans the globe for international partnerships for technology transfer. Dannex Ayrton Starwin Plc’s combined market capitalization makes it an enticing opportunity for potential investors who seek to invest in pharmaceutical business which in turn provides Liquidity and dividends that enhance its shareholder value.
New Global Pharmaceuticals
New Global Pharmaceuticals started as the concept of Mr. George Mensah Wiafe, a Business professional 2000 as a limited liability. Over the years, the company has grown very rapidly into a large pharmaceutical entity. It currently operates from its base located in Accra Ghana, West Africa.
From humble beginnings, the business has evolved to a manufacturing, trading and export firm which exports to countries like Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone and the West Africa Sub region. New Global Pharmaceuticals has its own brand of drugs in the market currently which include: Ciprovit, Acinil, Calmin and many more.
The company operates an extensive and networked distribution system as well as agencies to help penetrate the highly competitive pharmaceutical market. New Global Pharmaceuticals has its own manufacturing and laboratory Centre equipped with qualified staff and modern machinery and equipment. The company currently has over 500 employees with offices across Ghana’s 16 regions.
Base Pharmaceuticals
Base Pharmaceuticals is an Indian pharmaceutical company based in Ghana. The company also exists in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia and South-East Asia: Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Philippines. Base Pharmacy is well acclaimed in the markets for their Branded Generic products among Buyers and Consumers.
The company has a wide array of products that include virtually all therapeutic classes such as Antibiotics and Anti-infective, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-arthritic, cardiovascular, Anti-diabetics, Anti-malarial, cough and cold remedies, multi-vitamins and minerals, Anxiolytics, Antihistamines, Analgesics, Antacids, Anti-flatulent, Erectile Dysfunction, Veterinary Drugs, Herbal Medicine and Herbal Cosmetics in form of Tablets, Capsules, Syrups, Dry Syrups, Ointments, Soft Gelatin Capsules, Skin Care Creams & Powders and Injection.
Base Pharmacy is a customer-centric organization that puts the needs of customers (consumers and investors) at the fore-front of their operations which is similar to GreenViews Apartments’ values.
Ernest Chemist Limited
Ernest Chemist Limited is a wholly owned Ghanaian pharmaceutical manufacturing, retailing and distributing company founded in 1986 as a sole proprietorship, which later became a limited liability in 1993. It is arguably the most popular pharmaceutical company in Ghana due to their aggressive advertisements in the past.
Founded by Mr. Ernest Bediako Sampong, a pharmacist by profession, Ernest Chemist Limited has made giant strides since its commencement and has grown from a single retail outlet into a thriving business entity with its own office complex, retail & wholesale shops, warehouse facilities and manufacturing plants.
With deep insight, knowledge and experience in the pharmaceutical industry over the years, Ernest Chemist has continued to provide quality and affordable pharmaceutical products to meet the health needs for society at large.
The company is also noted as one of the biggest distributors of pharmaceutical products with a wide distribution network across Ghana and beyond. The company also has one of the largest retail chains, with an ultra-modern pharmacy setup, to bring products closer to customers, coupled with exceptional customer service. Currently, the company has a staff population of over 700 employees with 48% in the manufacturing division and the remaining in the other divisions.
Aside from the manufacturing of quality and affordable medicine, Ernest Chemist also has the biggest Agency representation for Multinational Pharmaceutical and consumer brands which enables it to offer the widest range of pharmaceutical and consumer products in Ghana.
