President William Ruto has announced an agreement between the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and Pfizer to reduce the cost of medicines used the treat several cancers.
The agreement, known as the Accord for a Healthier World, covers medicines for breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, oesophageal, leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma cancers.
In a statement on August 31, the President said prices of the affected medicines have been reduced by more than seven times. In some cases, the cost has fallen from as much as KSh1 million to less than KSh50,000 per treatment cycle.
“In some instances, the cost has reduced from as high as KSh1 million to less than KSh50,000 per cycle. The impact of the agreement between Pfizer and the Kenya Medical Supply Authority (KEMSA),” Ruto said.
The agreement is expected to make the KSh800,000 Social Health Authority (SHA) cancer package fully adequate, without additional costs to patients for the treatment covered under the package.
Ruto On Access to Newer Cancer Medicines
This arrangement will also allow Kenya to access newer cancer medicines without the 10-year waiting period that the President said cancer patients have previously faced.
In his statement, Ruto said Pfizer is also making technologies and newer medicines available to support local pharmaceutical production in Africa.
“As the African Union Champion for Local Manufacturing of Medical Commodities, I am proud that Pfizer is making available these technologies and newer medicines for local pharmaceutical production in the continent,” he said.
The announcement followed a meeting at State House Nairobi between the President and Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla.
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Bourla was accompanied by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Carla Benini, Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga and other Pfizer officials.
The Social Health Authority has so far registered 32.5 million Kenyans, according to the statement, with contributions from citizens supporting the financing of healthcare programs.
Parliament has also enacted legislation establishing funds supporting primary healthcare, social insurance, and emergency, chronic, and critical illness care.
The Digital Health Agency has supported the digitization of healthcare services, with the system intended to improve transparency and address fraud.
KEMSA Refill Rate Hits 91% as Government Expands Hospital Equipment
President Ruto said the government has worked with county governments to hire more health workers, resolve long-standing collective bargaining disputes and expand community health promotion programs.
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He said the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) refill rate has increased to 91% from 40%, as efforts continue to improve the availability of medicines and other medical supplies in hospitals.
“To ensure availability of medicines and other commodities in hospitals, we have strengthened the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), whose refill rate now stands at 91 percent from a low of 40 percent.”
Further, hr confirmed that the government is also working with manufacturers to supply, install, maintain and upgrade hospital equipment, including dialysis machines, CT scanners, MRI machines, digital X-rays and laboratory kits.
The equipment is being provided under a fee-for-service arrangement, with no upfront cost to the government, according to the statement.
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