Across Papua New Guinea, City Pharmacy serves as more than a place to collect medication. For many families, it is where they seek trusted advice, reassurance, and support during some of life’s most challenging moments.
It was in this environment that Pharmacist Kila Ekapo began a journey that would shape not only his career but also the lives of the people and teams he serves today.
Kila joined CPL Group in 2022 as a Community Pharmacist at the Vision City branch in Port Moresby, and within his first year, he was entrusted with relief placements across several regional locations, including Lihir, Maprik, Popondetta, and Vanimo where he would later return in a Managerial capacity.
As his experience grew, so did his responsibilities. Kila progressed into management roles, overseeing operations, leading teams, and supporting business performance. A defining moment came when he began mentoring staff, pharmacy interns, and newly recruited pharmacists. Seeing others develop and succeed gave him a new sense of purpose and revealed his passion for leadership.
“At the beginning, my focus was simply on becoming the best pharmacist I could be. That experience gradually prepared me for leadership opportunities”.
Now in October 2026, CPL Group is proud to announce Kila’s new appointment Area Manager, City Pharmacy Retail, where he now oversees the retail operations, business performance, customer service standards, and team leadership across seven City Pharmacy stores, including five in the Southern Region and two in the NGI Region.
As part of his new role, Kila now provides strategic direction and operational support to ensure consistent service delivery, commercial growth, and high standards of patient care across his Area Stores network.
“What attracted me most was the opportunity start my career and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of customers/people while being part of a company committed to improving health outcomes across Papua New Guinea”.
Kila’s progression from frontline pharmacist to retail leader reflects the spirit of the recent 9th Biennial Pharmaceutical Society of Papua New Guinea (PSPNG) Conference 2026 theme, “Innovate, Integrate and Impact Through Pharmacy Leadership and Partnership for Better Health Outcomes.”His journey demonstrates how embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and leading with purpose can create meaningful impact for both the profession and the communities it serves.
For Kila, working directly with customers taught him lessons that would define his leadership philosophy. Every interaction reinforced the importance of empathy, trust, and active listening. Whether helping families access essential medicines or providing advice during difficult times, he realized the true value of pharmacy lies in the human connections behind every prescription. These experiences strengthened his commitment to serving people and inspired him to contribute beyond the pharmacy counter.
“As a Community Pharmacist, serving customers and communities taught me the importance of empathy, active listening and trust,” said Kila. “Every customer has unique needs, and taking the time to understand their situation can make a significant difference in both their health outcomes and overall experience.”
International exposure further expanded his vision. Participation in the FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences 2023 in Brisbane and the Australian Pharmacy Professional Conference 2026 on the Gold Coast connected him with global healthcare leaders and emerging pharmacy innovations.
Throughout this journey, Kila embraced every opportunity to learn. He credits supportive leaders and colleagues, particularly Judith Degay, whose professionalism, discipline, and leadership greatly influenced his development.
His commitment to continuous improvement earned him the Most Improved Pharmacist/Manager of the Year Award in 2023, recognising his dedication to excellence in service, leadership, and operational performance.
Today, as Area Manager, Kila leads with the same purpose that guided him on his first day as a pharmacist: helping people. His focus now extends beyond individual performance to strengthening teams, driving operational excellence, developing future leaders, and ensuring communities continue to receive quality healthcare services.