Requirements For Opening Up A Pharmacy In Uganda
A Pharmacy is a shop or hospital dispensary where medicinal drugs are prepared or sold.
Register a business entity either as a company or partnership indicating pharmaceutical business as one of your objectives.
Choose suitable premises for a pharmacy, consult about their suitability then apply for pre-inspection at NATIONAL Drug Authority.
After inspection of your premises, the National Drug Authority will issue you an approval letter to go ahead and organize the premise and apply for inspection in the event that it passes the minimum distance and space requirements amongst other pre-requisites.
Engage a duly registered pharmacist who is a resident in Uganda and incorporate him/her as director in case of a body corporate or as a partner in case of partnership.
Your pharmacist will then apply for the 2nd inspection of the premise submitting all the necessary documents e.g., Certified copies of certificate of incorporation, company form 20, certified Memorandum and Articles of association, TIN, etc.
An invoice is then generated by NDA upon fulfillment of all the requirements. Upon payment of the prescribed fee, an inspector is allocated to the pharmacy.
After inspection and upon passing, a license and certificate of suitability of premises is then given to you and the pharmacy can start operation.
Supplies
Your drugs and other supplies for your pharmacy business will be sourced from manufactures and distributors within the area where you operate. It will be better to coordinate with pharmaceutical representatives in the area and with the health care facilities around your location. Build relationships and familiarize all the drug companies and their representative in order to take advantage with their special offers, samples, and discounts.
Depending on the size of your premises, you can place an order of Sh 2,000,000 or up to Sh 6,000,000 for a start. After determining how the products move, you can thereafter order weekly or daily depending on your size and the volumes of drugs you sell. Many manufacturers and distributors will deliver your orders free of charge.
Stocks
It is important to know that many pharmacies in Uganda majorly stock antibiotics, anti-malarial drugs, cough syrup/tablets, painkillers and creams for ailments while some of the fast moving drugs are cough drugs, pain killers, ulcer drugs and dewormers, especially in rural set ups. Stocking these products will guarantee you steady income. Many also stock other non-pharmaceutical products like skin creams, lotions, perfumes, soaps and baby products such as diapers which also bring in good returns.
Organize your products especially the medicines. You may choose to arrange them according to products but usually, most pharmacies arrange by the maker of the drugs. You must develop a system in stocking, shelving, and retrieving the medicine. This will make your service faster and your products fresh.
How much is a pharmacy licence in Uganda?
Under the revised fees structure, renewing a licence to operate a retail pharmacy in Kampala’s central division costs sh600,000 from sh300,000. Site inspection costs have also been doubled from sh30,000 to sh60,000 while ascertaining suitability of premises has doubled to sh600,000.
How much does it cost to start a drug shop in Uganda?
Under the new structure, a new license to operate a drug shop costs sh120,000 in Kampala, sh75,000 for municipalities and sh45,000 for drug shops in rural areas. The same costs apply to renewal of the licence.