Indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturer Dannex Ayrton Starwin (DAS) Plc and health logistics and service delivery firm mPharma Pharmaceuticals have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), geared toward increasing access to quality yet affordable essential medicines in the country by driving efficiency in the local pharmaceutical supply chain.
This comes at a time when self-reliance in manufacturing critical commodities such as pharmaceutical products has gained increased significance, particularly as a result of the disruptions to global supply chains occasioned by the ongoing pandemic.
The agreement stipulates that both institutions will collaborate to distribute DAS Plc products across all mPharma networking chains; manufacture branded molecules by DAS Plc for mPharma; as well as pursuing mutually beneficial marketing strategies.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DAS Plc, Daniel Kissi, stressed the agreement’s importance to the company’s goal of achieving sustainable and efficient universal health coverage.
“This is a superb and fantastic agreement. At the end of the day, it is all about ensuring that we get the right level of healthcare in Ghana. It is also all about us working together to ensure that the medicines are out there to meet the needs of Ghanaian patients and consumers,” he said.
He suggested that mPharma – which manages prescription drug inventory for pharmacies and their suppliers – has an enviable track-record of success in achieving its goal of improving the efficiency of pharmaceutical supply chains across the continent, and this informed the decision for partnership.
Pointing to mPharma’s acquisitions and operations across the continent, and the confidence expressed by investors in the firm as evidenced by funding, he expressed optimism that the goals set for the partnership will be achieved and even exceeded.
On his part, CEO of mPharma Gregory Rockson stressed the opportune timing of the partnership and expressed hope that it will mark the beginning of further joint-endeavours.
“We are signing a long-term collaboration with DAS Plc to ensure that we can guarantee the availability and supply of medicines for the Ghanaian population. As one of the big medicine providers through our retail outlets as well as the hospitals that we support, we think it is important that as a country we can actually work with a local manufacturer like DAS Plc to build resilience within our drug supply chain,” he stated.
