Founded in 1994 by Amakelech Lulu, Gishen Pharmacy proudly marks three decades of service, impact, and community trust.

A graduate of the Addis Ababa University School of Pharmacy, Amakelech envisioned a pharmacy that truly supported people where essential medicines were accessible, information was clear, and care was consistent. After years of serving in government hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, she took a bold step: she borrowed money from her father and opened her own pharmacy. In the early days, she was everything: the pharmacist, the cashier, the cleaner, and the manager, all driven by dedication and purpose.

Gishen’s first branch opened at 22 Mazoria, where it became the first pharmacy to operate 24/7, including holidays and Sundays. Understanding the power of awareness, Amakelech created Amharic flyers to educate and inform the community on health issues, long before health education became a mainstream practice.

Guided by her values of trust, honesty, and keeping one’s word, Amakelech built a community-centered pharmacy that set new standards in the sector. Gishen Pharmacy has been a true trailblazer in Ethiopia’s pharmacy industry, consistently elevating the standard of community care. 

Over the years, they have invested deeply in training their employees to deliver high-quality, reliable service. They established the first privately owned Medicine Information Center, introduced medical history recording to help patients communicate more effectively with their doctors, and embraced new technologies that transformed how pharmacies operate across the country.

As Gishen celebrates 30 years, Amakelech reflects on her legacy, now carried forward alongside her sons.They are expanding into three new branches and working toward becoming a publicly listed company in the near future.

Her mission remains unchanged: to serve her community with integrity, innovation, and care, now more than ever.

Congratulations to Amakelech and the entire Gishen Pharmacy family on this remarkable milestone!

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