Ghana’s mPharma acquires majority stake in Nigeria’s HealthPlus
By Chisom Nwatu
mPharma, Africa’s leading patient-centred technology-driven healthcare company, has acquired a majority stake in HealthPlus, one of the leading pharmacy chains in Nigeria. mPharma and the former investor, Alta Semper, have signed a contract leading to the acquisition of a majority stake in the HealthPlus Group.
Ghana-headquartered mPharma, founded in 2013, has expanded operations to nine other African countries, including Nigeria. The healthcare company seeks to provide innovative solutions, including vendor-managed inventory services, retail and primary care solutions for community pharmacies, and data analytics.
By merging HealthPlus pharmacies with mPharma’s growing portfolio of partner mutti pharmacies and GoodHealth shops (PPMVs), mPharma’s network will grow from 224 to over 320 health facilities in Nigeria and will provide care to more than 100,000 Nigerians each month.
Gregory Rockson, chief executive officer and co-founder of mPharma, said the acquisition of the HealthPlus Pharmacy chain by mPharma is in line with the company’s mission to build an Africa that is in good health by delivering life-changing healthcare services and drugs to improve health outcomes for patients.
He also stated that the acquisition complements mPharma’s deep commitment to increasing patient access to affordable and quality healthcare in Nigeria.
“mPharma is deepening its long-standing commitment to Africa by reimagining primary healthcare in some of the most vulnerable communities on the continent. We continue to transform community pharmacies into primary care centres to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to all patients so they can live not just longer but healthier lives,” Rockson said.
“We are optimistic about the future of healthcare for Nigerians through the acquisition of HealthPlus,” he said.
Afsane Jetha, co-founder and CEO, Alta Semper Capital, said the company was delighted about HealthPlus’ partnership with mPharma.
“We have a strong conviction in mPharma’s strategy of revolutionizing primary care across Africa and believe mPharma is the ideal steward for HealthPlus’s next chapter of growth. We believe mPharma’s vision is consistent with that of HealthPlus’s shareholders and employees, and we are enthusiastic to support the business through a relationship with mPharma going forward,” Jetha stated.
While mPharma plans to continue to keep and strengthen HealthPlus as Nigeria’s leading pharmacy brand, the acquisition will also provide expansion opportunities for mPharma within the country and a platform to expand mPharma’s mutti pharmacy retail footprint across the continent through its fast-growing QualityRx programme.
Powered by mPharma’s proprietary Bloom software, HealthPlus will provide patients access to affordable primary care services within its pharmacies, in addition to affordable and quality medications it currently retails across 12 states in Nigeria. The HealthPlus pharmacy chain will also launch mutti, mPharma’s health membership programme, which will provide both existing and new customers with discounts, interest-free “heal-now-pay-later” plans, free health screenings, and other primary care services.