Droga Pharma PLC — Factual Verification & Findings
Key factual findings (plain language, no jargon)
Business identity: Droga Pharma PLC is a registered Ethiopian company operating in
pharmaceutical importation, distribution, and retail.
Company website: [Link] lists Droga as an importer, distributor,
and commission agent for pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.
Founding signal: Multiple public job postings and company profiles indicate Droga
was established in April 2015 by healthcare professionals.
Headquarters & addresses: Public contact pages list addresses in Addis Ababa
(Droga Building, Addis Ketema Subcity; retail pharmacies located in Arada Subcity
and other locations).
Contact information: Public phone numbers include +25111 273 4554 and mobile
+251 91 366 7537; emails listed include info@[Link] and
pharmadroga@[Link].
Retail network: Droga operates a retail pharmacy brand 'Droga Pharmacies' with
multiple outlets; company materials describe it as a growing national chain.
Online presence: Droga has an active website, LinkedIn company page, Facebook
page, and recent recruitment adverts indicating operational scale (~400+ employees
reported in job ads).
Business activities: Public sources show Droga engages in importation of
pharmaceuticals, wholesale distribution to hospitals and pharmacies, and operates
retail pharmacy outlets.
Import signals: Trade-data directories (Seair Exim, Volza previews) list Droga
Pharma PLC as an importer to Ethiopia — full Bills of Lading and CIF values require
paid trade-data access or company-provided B/Ls.
Product types (representative): Company and public listings indicate a portfolio of
prescription and OTC medicines, medical supplies, and healthcare devices; exact
SKU lists are not published centrally on the website.
Regulatory note: No public EFDA (Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority) suspension
entry for Droga was found in open-source checks during this review. However, EFDA
live CoC (Certificate of Competence) and per-SKU Marketing Authorization (MA)
status must be confirmed directly on EFDA eRIS for any procurement.
Product registration: There is no authoritative public list on the Droga website
showing MA numbers or expiry dates for SKUs; obtain MA documents from the
company and verify on EFDA.
Financial transparency: No audited financial statements were found in public
sources; Droga’s turnover and creditworthiness are not publicly verifiable without
company disclosure.
Operational footprint: Public materials and job ads suggest a substantial in-house
workforce and logistics operation supporting both wholesale and retail channels.
Quality & compliance signals: No public evidence of enforcement actions was found
during this check, but EFDA checks and on-site warehouse verification are
recommended.
Common operational risks: as with other Ethiopian importers, Droga faces foreign-
exchange constraints, Djibouti corridor transit delays, and potential
customs/demurrage exposure.
Trade-data limitations: Public trade-directory previews show Droga as an importer
but full manifest details (per-shipment CIF, manufacturer, HS codes) are behind
paywalls.
Customer base: Droga supplies hospitals, clinics, retail pharmacies, and directly to
consumers through its retail outlets.
Sales model: Combined importer-wholesaler-retailer model — imports into central
warehouses, distributes to institutional buyers and retail outlets, and operates own
retail pharmacies.
Warehouse verification: Public sources do not publish detailed GDP/GSP
certifications or temperature logs; request these documents prior to procurement if
temperature-sensitive products are involved.
Pharmacovigilance & MA responsibilities: If Droga holds MAs, it is responsible for
adverse-event reporting (pharmacovigilance) and must provide a PV contact when
you procure registered products.
Actionable verification needed before procurement: request from Droga — current
EFDA CoC, MA list with MA numbers and expiries, recent COAs for batches, last 12
months’ B/Ls or customs declarations, warehouse evidence, and customer
references.
Immediate procurement advice: Do not finalize purchase orders until you have
verified active EFDA CoC and MA validity for each product you plan to buy.
What was verifiable publicly: company website, contact details, retail chain
existence, job postings indicating establishment in 2015 and staff size signals, and
trade-directory importer listings. Critical regulatory proofs require direct EFDA checks
and company-provided documents.
