“By karma, I’m an Angolan,” said Bhag Singh Thakur, Vice President and Head – Angola (Pharma) at Shalina Healthcare, as he participated in a panel discussion at the India-Angola Business Forum in New Delhi on 4th May 2025. With more than a decade of experience in the region, Thakur shared powerful insights into Shalina’s transformative journey in Angola—one that blends business with local empowerment, healthcare equity, and nation-building.
This personal reflection set the tone for an inspiring account of how Shalina Healthcare has evolved from a pharmaceutical venture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo nearly four decades ago to becoming one of the most trusted healthcare providers in Angola and across 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Established in Angola in 1996 with its first depot, Shalina has since expanded its footprint to all provinces of Angola, building a vast distribution network while maintaining a deep sense of local empowerment and ownership. “We are a company deeply rooted in local empowerment,” Thakur emphasised. “Out of the 25 depots we operate in Angola today, each one is managed by a talented, young Angolan professional.”
In a strong message to Indian businesses looking to engage with Angola, he added, “To my fellow Indian business leaders in the room: Angola is rich in human capital. We have seen firsthand the extraordinary capabilities and potential of local talent.”
At the heart of Shalina’s mission is a belief that access to healthcare is fundamental. “We believe that access to quality healthcare is not a privilege—it is a basic human right,” he asserted. “Our mission is to ensure that high-quality, affordable medicines are accessible even in the remotest corners of Angola.”
This guiding philosophy has led Shalina to not only expand its physical presence but also to invest in the future of Angolan healthcare leadership. Through initiatives like the Shalina Young Talent Award (for pharmacists) and the Rising Star Award (for doctors), the company is identifying and nurturing emerging talent. “These programmes have created a pipeline of skilled professionals who are passionate about transforming healthcare in Angola,” said Thakur.
Shalina’s vision also extends to industrial development. Thakur proudly shared the establishment of a soap manufacturing unit in Luanda, calling it “not merely about soap production—it is about empowering the community, generating employment, and contributing meaningfully to Angola’s economic development.”
Among the company’s most visible symbols of commitment is Kaja Shalina, also known as “the Blue Building”—a state-of-the-art distribution centre. “This facility is a significant investment,” Thakur remarked, “not just in infrastructure, but in Angola’s long-term health system resilience and economic progress.”
He also highlighted Shalina’s collaborative efforts with leading hospitals and universities, including Universidade Agostinho Neto, to conduct evidence-based studies and offer internship and training programmes for students. “We want to understand what Angola truly needs, beyond what textbooks dictate,” he said. “Our aim is to develop future leaders from within the country.”
“As I said,” Thakur concluded, “we don’t just operate in Angola—we partner with Angola, in its journey toward better health, stronger institutions, and shared prosperity.”
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