Serial entrepreneurs plugs the medical manufacturing gap
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday November 7, 2023 10:46
The duo’s company, which trades as Medical Devices Botswana, provides a diversified range of high quality pharmaceutical products that include anti-retroviral, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic and anti-biotic tablets and capsules. It was in 2016 when the two entrepreneurs, who were then doctors in the public sector, decided to spread their wings and start their own manufacturing of hospital consumables. Narrating the journey, Kgosimotho said it all started in 2016 while they were still doctors at the government hospital. After working in public sector, they then decided to venture into manufacturing of hospital consumables, he revealed.
Two years later in 2018, their dream came alive as they started manufacturing medical devices that included auto disable syringes, canola’s, IVU’s, circumcision kit, injections, surgical gowns and gloves, masks, transfusion sets, viginal dilators, transfusion kits to mention but a few. “We identified the gap, and as professionals in the medical industry, it was indeed the right step,” Kgosimotho said. A year later, the duo expanded their operations by opening two clinics and pharmacies in Ramotswa and Mochudi under the Ultra Care brand. Further in 2020, they started selling pills and distributing medication for humans and animals. This was done through their international partners, both technical partners and exclusive agency partners in United States and China. They also have partnership with various international supplies of drugs and vaccines. “Our growth strategy is based on the Beats strategy, it is quite a risky move but can be rewarding if done right,” he said.
“The year 2021 saw the construction of the MDB pharma laboratory, which we deem our biggest project. Last year we got licensed to manufacture tablets and capsules and we are in the stage of manufacturing and packaging of the capsules and tablets.” At present, the company manufactures anti retroviral drugs, anti-biotics and anti-hypertensives, the bbeta lactam (penicillin) block producers penicillins. They supply both the private and government pharmacies as well as Central Medical Stores under the Ministry of Health. Dr Kgosimotho further shared their plans of exporting to Namibia in the near future.
He noted that they have been conducting market analysis of that market, in order to try and understand the landscape. “Our plan is to penetrate other regional markets, but before pills leave Botswana, they need to be registered and it normally takes three years. We are busy with our registration in Namibia and also focused on building capacity in Botswana,” he added. During the course of the development, the company grew from four employees to 50 permanent workers and 100 casuals who are normally engaged when there is a big order. The company has also diversified into the broilers business, as they currently provide Tswana Pride and Choppies with 100,000 birds per cycle. Equally, they have a logistics wing, operating five haulage trucks that do cross border transportation of consumable goods.