{
  "id": 10468803,
  "title": "Kenya targets 50pc local production of essential medicines by 2030",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/kenya-targets-50pc-local-production-of-essential-medicines-by-2030",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T14:57:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Capital FM Kenya",
    "slug": "capital-fm-kenya",
    "url": "https://capitalfm.africa/kenya-targets-50pc-local-production-of-essential-medicines-by-2030/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government aims to have at least half of its essential medicines manufactured locally by 2030, as part of efforts to reduce dependence on imports and bolster the country's pharmaceutical security. This objective is outlined in the 2026–2030 Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy, which emphasizes expanding domestic pharmaceutical production, enhancing regulatory oversight, and ensuring access to high-quality medicines. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated that this strategy is integral to building a more resilient health system and minimizing Kenya's exposure to global supply disruptions.\n\nCurrently, Africa relies heavily on imports, with the continent importing over 70 percent of the health products it consumes, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH). At the sixth PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026, Duale announced several initiatives Kenya is implementing to boost domestic manufacturing and enhance regulatory cooperation across the continent. \"Thirteen new pharmaceutical companies have started operations in Kenya, some already producing medicines and other health products for export,\" the MoH reported, highlighting the potential for local manufacturers to serve regional markets.\n\nIn addition to expanding manufacturing capacity, Kenya is enforcing stricter regulations on medicines and health products in circulation. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has intensified its market surveillance efforts, removing more than 2,200 substandard, falsified, and non-compliant products from the market. Kenya is also progressing towards the World Health Organization's Maturity Level 3, a benchmark designed to bolster the capacity and effectiveness of national medicines regulatory systems. This regulatory focus aims to ensure that the growth in local production is accompanied by robust quality controls and consumer protection.\n\nKenya's strategy acknowledges the uneven pharmaceutical manufacturing landscape on the continent, with 85 percent of facilities concentrated in just eight countries. The nation seeks to empower domestic manufacturers to meet a larger share of national demand and to compete effectively in regional and global markets. The PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026, held under the theme \"Building the Bridge of Health,\" brings together more than 450 health professionals, regulators, pharmaceutical industry representatives, and development partners from Africa and beyond to discuss pharmaceutical regulation, local manufacturing, and Universal Health Coverage. The summit underscores the importance of enhanced regulatory collaboration among African nations to improve access to safe and quality health products and to foster the growth of the continent's pharmaceutical industry.",
  "summary": "NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 28 — Kenya is targeting local production of at least half of its essential health products by 2030 as the government moves to reduce reliance on imports…",
  "key_points": [
    "Kenya aims for 50% local production of essential medicines by 2030.",
    "13 new pharmaceutical companies operational in Kenya.",
    "Kenya enforces stricter regulations on medicines and health products."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}