EC-S1018 : Franchises for Rural Pharmacies in Ecuador

The project's goal is to improve the welfare and quality of life of rural populations of Ecuador. The purpose is to establish a franchise model (network of pharmacies) for the provision of quality pharmaceutical services in rural communities in the Sierra Central-South and South Coast of Ecuador. The proposed model will help generate local economic opportunities (micro franchisees), as a new generation of entrepreneurs in rural areas; moreover these new businesses will be a source of formal employment in rural communities. This project represents the first formal initiative of a national pharmacy network to provide affordable products and high quality pharmaceutical services in rural areas in Ecuador, and it is also the first PES in promoting rural pharmaceutical services.