President William Ruto has announced a major reduction in the cost of medicines used to treat several cancers following a new agreement between the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
Under the agreement, signed through Pfizer’s Accord for a Healthier World initiative, prices of selected cancer medicines are expected to fall by more than seven times. In some cases, medicines that previously cost as much as KSh1 million per treatment cycle will cost less than KSh50,000.
The agreement covers medicines used in the treatment of breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate and esophageal cancers, as well as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
Ruto said the significant reduction in prices will strengthen access to cancer care and make the KSh800,000 Social Health Authority (SHA) cancer package adequate to cover treatment without requiring patients to make additional payments in the cases covered by the agreement.
Beyond reducing treatment costs, the President said the partnership will enable Kenya to access newer cancer medicines without the lengthy waiting period that patients have traditionally faced.
According to Ruto, Kenyan patients currently face delays of up to 10 years before some newer cancer treatments become available. The new arrangement is expected to shorten that gap and improve access to advanced therapies.
The development comes as Kenya continues efforts to expand access to specialised healthcare while reducing the financial burden of cancer treatment on patients and their families.
Ruto also linked the agreement to Kenya’s wider efforts to promote pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa.
As the African Union Champion for Local Manufacturing of Medical Commodities, the President welcomed Pfizer’s commitment to making relevant technologies and newer medicines available to support local pharmaceutical production on the continent.
He said the partnership would contribute to Kenya’s broader Universal Health Coverage agenda and strengthen the country’s ability to provide affordable healthcare.
Ruto made the announcement after receiving Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla at State House, Nairobi.
Bourla was accompanied by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Nairobi Carla Benini and other Pfizer officials.
The President thanked Pfizer for its partnership with Kenya and said the government would continue working with the pharmaceutical company to strengthen Universal Health Coverage.
The agreement is expected to provide significant financial relief to cancer patients, particularly those who require multiple treatment cycles, while improving access to newer medicines.
