Kenya secures major cancer drug price cuts in Pfizer deal
Kenya has secured a major breakthrough in cancer treatment after signing an agreement with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer that will significantly reduce the cost of medicines used to treat several cancers. President William Ruto said the agreement between Pfizer and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), under the Accord for a Healthier World, will cut [...] The post Kenya secures major…
Kenya has achieved a significant milestone in cancer treatment through a deal with Pfizer, the renowned US pharmaceutical company. President William Ruto announced that this agreement, inked under the Accord for a Healthier World, will slash the cost of essential medicines for various cancers by over seven times. This will slash the price of treatment for cancers like breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, oesophageal, leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma from up to Sh1 million to under Sh50,000 per treatment cycle.
Consequently, Kenya's Social Health Authority (SHA) cancer treatment package will become sufficient to cover all costs, eliminating the need for additional payments from patients. The deal is expected to make newer cancer medicines accessible to Kenyan patients without the lengthy waiting period currently in place. Ruto emphasized that this partnership advances Kenya's Universal Health Coverage program, making cancer care more affordable.
As the African Union Champion for Local Manufacturing of Medical Commodities, Ruto also highlighted Pfizer's commitment to facilitating local pharmaceutical production in Africa by sharing technologies and newer medicines. The agreement was welcomed by Ruto, who expressed gratitude for Pfizer's investment in Kenya and its role in enhancing access to cancer treatment.
This landmark agreement follows Kenya's ongoing efforts to broaden access to specialized treatment while mitigating the financial strain associated with cancer care as part of the Universal Health Coverage agenda.
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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