Ruto announces cancer drug prices slashed by up to 95 per cent after Pfizer deal

President William Ruto has declared a significant development in Kenya's battle against cancer, following a historic agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The deal, known as the Accord for a Healthier World, is expected to slash the cost of several life-saving cancer medications by up to 95 percent. During a meeting at State House Nairobi, Ruto outlined the agreement's terms, which include a substantial reduction in the price of treatments for major cancers such as breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, oesophageal, leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.

Under the terms of the Accord, medicines previously costing up to Ksh1 million per cycle will now be available for less than Ksh50,000, drastically improving affordability for patients. Ruto highlighted that this reduction will make these previously expensive medicines accessible to a far larger number of patients. The President emphasized that this development will strengthen Kenya's Social Health Authority (SHA) cancer benefit package, making it sufficient to cover treatment without additional financial burden for many patients.

Additionally, the agreement is anticipated to expedite the availability of newer cancer medicines for Kenyan patients, reducing the current wait time of up to 10 years. Ruto stated that the partnership with Pfizer will enable Kenya to gain earlier access to these innovative therapies. The President touted the agreement as a crucial step towards enhancing the country's Universal Health Coverage program.

Moreover, the deal aligns with Kenya's goal of becoming a leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing on the continent, leveraging Pfizer's commitment to facilitate the local production of newer technologies and medicines.