Entrepreneurship
35
Life Long Healthcare
Website
Rhulani Shivambu, 35, is a pharmacist with Life Long Healthcare who is focused on providing a comprehensive healthcare service to primarily rural-based communities.
In order to provide a traditionally urban pharmaceutical experience to underprivileged communities, Rhulani collaborates with a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals and interested persons from the community. His entry into retail pharmacy led him to complete an MBA, as he realised the importance of business as a powerful tool to benefit and uplift vulnerable communities.
Rhulani has opened five pharmacies — in Tembisa, Northwest, Moloto and Norkem — ensuring that health care is accessible and affordable to these communities. He has also created employment for more than 50 people. He is studying towards a post-grad diploma in public health with the aim of creating a sustainable future and equity in health care.
“When developing health solutions for the various communities, I met new friends and experienced an acceptance and appreciation which was way beyond what I could even fathom. Seeing the significance of the small changes I affected in these communities motivated me to want to see other individuals and communities want to experience the same, if not a better,” he says.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree (University of the Western Cape)
- Master in Business Administration (Regenesys Business School)
- Currently completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health (University of Pretoria)
- Developed five branches in three provinces
- Was a guest on a YoTV episode in 2018 to offer my views on retail pharmacy and community-based service
- Featured in an interview discussing entrepreneurship and rural development building up to the budget speech for the year 2018
- Being shortlisted for M&G Top 200.
At the age of eight, I used to assist at my father’s medical practice as a dispenser of medication and my brother as a receptionist. Fast Forward, I became a pharmacist and my brother is a doctor. I learned a lot from watching my father run a successful medical practice, which he has been doing for more than 30 years.
I would advise my younger self to be more intentional with my purpose however early I find it, I feel that most young people after finding their purpose struggle with awakening into it and eventually dedicating their life to fulfilling it.
As an advocate for community development, I would like to see a more inclusive South Africa which will acknowledge and rectify its insurmountable barriers of entry into platforms in which the youth can offer its contribution. The allocated budget towards learning and skills development which is often returned unused exposes the disconnect which exists between our government and the communities which it leads.
Private institutions thrive more in instances in which the State fails its mandate, this then weakens the state which we depend on for its strength to lead and offer platforms for us to change our own whilst also growing as solutions.