President William Ruto has announced a major cut in cancer drug prices by up to 95 percent after Kenya signed a landmark deal with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
The agreement between the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and Pfizer, under the Accord for a Healthier World programme, was signed at State House Nairobi on Monday , during a meeting with Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla.
Ruto said prices for medicines treating nine cancers breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, oesophageal, leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma have dropped more than seven times.In some cases, a treatment cycle that cost as high as Ksh 1 million will now cost less than Ksh 50,000.
The President said this makes the Ksh 800,000 cancer package under the Social Health Authority (SHA) fully adequate, meaning patients will no longer need to top up from their pockets.
The deal will also give Kenya access to newer cancer therapies without the current 10-year wait, and Pfizer will share technology to support local pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa.
