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PE fund’s medicine portal to offer 40pc discount

CEO

MyDawa founder Neil O’Leary. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NMG

Private Equity (PE) firm Ion Equity has launched an online e-health platform called MyDawa where consumers can buy authentic medicines and wellness products at a 40 per cent discount.

The Irish firm yesterday said it has invested $5 million (Sh510 million), partnering with pharmacies to deliver medicines to buyers who place orders for drugs through the web portal. Ion Equity chief executive and MyDawa founder Neil O’Leary said they have already signed up 113 pharmacies in Nairobi and secured 12 products from manufacturers they are partnering with.

“We are partnering with several global pharmaceutical manufacturers after getting approval from the World Health Organisation and Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board has given us a go-ahead to work with identified pharmacies,” said Mr O’Leary.

He said the fund was used to set up an IT infrastructure and conduct market research ahead of the launch. The service is available in Nairobi with plans to roll it out to other counties.