KCH boss outlines vision for digital expansion, local manufacturing, strategic global partnerships

The newly appointed Managing Director of KCH Group, Ali Vejlani, has pledged to take the company to new heights in record time.

Speaking recently on his appointment, the Indian national described the role as “more than a corporate position — it is a national assignment.”

According to him, “The NAFDAC ban on antibiotic imports is a bold step toward health security and industrial growth. I’m honoured by the Board’s trust and committed to delivering a Beta Lactam facility that meets global standards, creates jobs, and ensures Nigerians have access to safe, affordable, locally made antibiotics.”

He also said that the planned Beta Lactam plant would cut Nigeria’s import bill, improve drug security, and align with the Federal Government’s push for local content in healthcare manufacturing. KCH Consumer Healthcare Limited, already active in consumer healthcare and pharmaceutical distribution, sees the project as central to its next growth phase.

“My immediate focus is to align KCH’s operations with national health priorities while building a more accessible, innovative, and globally competitive company,” Vejlani stated.

A top priority will be launching KCH Online Pharmacy in full compliance with recent approvals from the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, PCN, for online pharmacy services.

Read also: KCH appoints Ali Vejlani as managing director to lead Beta Lactam plant project

“This is a major milestone for healthcare access,” he said. “KCH will work closely with PCN to meet all regulatory standards and achieve the policy’s core objective: bringing safe, verifiable medicines closer to Nigerians wherever they are.”

Local production remains central to the vision. Several products are at advanced stages at KCH’s Epe plant in Lagos, and the company is investing to meet growing demand with world-class quality.

To reach the right audiences, KCH will use a hybrid distribution model. PharmaTimes, the company’s monthly health publication, will engage stakeholders, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with credible information, while the online platform will connect directly with end users and underserved populations.

On global partnerships, Vejlani confirmed active discussions with Asian pharmaceutical firms “even larger than Baroque in scale, capacity, and global reach.”

“Many will recall that our premium brands, Augzetab and Augze dry powder, were once the choice of physicians across Nigeria. They were manufactured by Baroque Pharmaceuticals India until NAFDAC’s 5+5 policy led Baroque to discontinue with production of our betalactam ranges,” Vejlani explained.

According to him, “As the Baroque chapter closed, a bigger door opened for KCH. These new partnerships are being structured to restore our leadership in Beta Lactam therapy and position us for export.”