Equity Afya has opened its first standalone community pharmacy in Nairobi's Upper Hill area, marking a major expansion of its healthcare network beyond clinics and into retail pharmaceutical services.
The new outlet, located at Britam Towers, is the first in what Equity Afya says will be a wider network of community pharmacies aimed at increasing access to medicines and primary healthcare services across Kenya.
The move comes as the healthcare provider seeks to build on its existing footprint of 154 medical centres operating across Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Unlike the pharmacies attached to its clinics, the new facility is designed to serve walk-in customers directly.
The pharmacy will offer prescription and over-the-counter medicines, alongside free blood pressure and blood sugar screening services. Customers requiring further medical attention will be referred to nearby Equity Afya clinics.
Speaking during the launch, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman Dr. James Mwangi said the initiative was intended to address gaps in access to pharmaceutical services, particularly in underserved areas.
“Today, very few Kenyans have convenient access to a licensed pharmacy, underscoring deep inequalities that leave vast populations underserved and excluded from essential care. This contributes to suboptimal health outcomes and ultimately constrains Kenya's economic resilience,” Mwangi said.
“Against this backdrop, we are launching a transformative solution. Through this franchise model, our strategic objective is to enhance access to high-quality, affordable medicine and integrated healthcare, with the goal of reducing the cost of medicine by 50 per cent to 80 per cent while significantly expanding access to safe and effective pharmaceutical care for all Kenyans.”
The pharmacy rollout is expected to be driven through a franchise model similar to the one currently used by Equity Afya's medical centres.
According to Equity Group Holdings Chairman Professor Isaac Macharia, the organisation is targeting the establishment of up to 1,000 pharmacies in the long term. The outlets will largely be operated by healthcare entrepreneurs drawn from the Equity Leaders Program (ELP), an initiative that supports students through scholarships and leadership development.
The launch also attracted support from the Gates Foundation, which has partnered with Equity Group Foundation on the project.
Speaking at the event, Gates Foundation Regional Director for Africa Paulin Basinga described the initiative as an example of private-sector solutions being applied to public health challenges.
"We are thrilled to partner with Equity Group Foundation because this initiative is a perfect example of our core belief: harnessing private-sector know-how to solve the biggest social problems," Basinga said.
"Our support is catalytic, designed to help unlock this scalable model. Our shared goal is to see these Equity Afya pharmacies expand into rural areas, not only here in Kenya but across the continent, because this is how we can truly solve the biggest health challenges and lift communities up."
Equity Afya currently serves an average of 130,000 patients every month through its network of clinics, according to company data.
Dr. Joanne Korir, Director of Operations at Equity Group Foundation, said the pharmacy network was designed to complement existing healthcare services by improving access to medicines and preventive care.
"This pharmacy is a demonstration of our integrated approach to healthcare. By connecting patients to a reliable source of medicine and preventive health services, we are creating a seamless journey from diagnosis to recovery, ensuring they receive the treatments they need, at a price that is fair, from people they can trust," she said.
The launch comes amid growing efforts by both public and private healthcare providers to expand access to affordable medicines, particularly outside major urban centres where shortages of pharmaceutical services remain a challenge.