Key Points
- Kenya and Pfizer signed an agreement reducing cancer drug prices per treatment cycle from 1 million Shillings to below 50,000 Shillings.
- The agreement covers breast, stomach, intestinal, lung, prostate, and esophageal cancers, as well as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
- The Social Health Authority's 800,000 Shilling package will now be able to cover treatment without requiring additional payment from patients.
- Kenya will gain access to new treatments without a 10-year waiting period, and Pfizer will transfer technology for local manufacturing across the continent.
By the Numbers
Kenyan President William Ruto announced that thanks to the agreement with Pfizer, the cost per treatment cycle for some cancer drugs has dropped from approximately 1 million Kenyan Shillings to below 50,000 Shillings. The agreement covers breast, stomach, intestinal, lung, prostate, and esophageal cancers, as well as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Ruto described this as a "major step forward".
The agreement was made between Pfizer's "Accord for a Healthier World" and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority; Kenya joined the program in June last year. Thanks to the reduced prices, the Social Health Authority's 800,000 Shilling cancer package will be able to fully cover treatment without patients needing to make additional payments. Moreover, Kenya will gain access to new treatments without a 10-year waiting period.
As the African Union Champion for Local Manufacturing of Medical Products, Ruto stated that Pfizer will make new technologies and drugs available for pharmaceutical production across the continent. Cancer is among the leading causes of death in Kenya, and high treatment costs have been pushing families into debt or forcing patients to abandon treatment midway.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Which cancer types are covered by this agreement?
- Breast, stomach, intestinal, lung, prostate, and esophageal cancers, as well as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
- What does the price drop mean for patients?
- The 800,000 Shilling insurance package will fully cover treatment, and patients will not have to make additional payments.
- Does the agreement have effects beyond Kenya?
- Yes, Pfizer will provide new technologies and drugs for pharmaceutical production across the African continent.
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