CS Duale Meets Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya to Advance UHC Through Pharmaceutical Sector Reforms
𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 — Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale held a bilateral meeting with the newly elected leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK), led by President Dr. Wairimu Mbogo, to discuss collaboration in strengthening Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector as a core pillar in the rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Taifa Care model.
Held at Afya House, Nairobi, the meeting focused on key sectoral priorities including the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill, the Kenya Health Products and Technologies Regulatory Authority (KHPTRA) Bill, and reforms at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA)—all pivotal to the success of UHC.
CS Duale emphasized the Ministry’s efforts to recapitalize and restructure KEMSA to restore its operational efficiency and raise fill rates above 90%, ensuring consistent delivery of essential medical commodities across public health facilities.
Aligned with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), the CS highlighted the development of Kenya’s first Local Manufacturing Strategy for Health Products and Technologies (HPTs)—a transformative step towards self-reliance, job creation, and reduced dependency on imports.
He also updated the delegation on the Ministry’s digital reforms, including the rollout of the National Product Catalogue to promote transparency in the supply chain. He noted that supporting platforms such as the National Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) and the Track & Trace system are underway to enhance supply chain visibility and minimize leakages.
The CS congratulated Dr. John Munyu on his recent appointment as Non-Executive Chair of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) and commended the Board’s progress on key regulatory milestones, including:
• Finalizing the updated classification and scheduling of medicines
• Advancing towards WHO Maturity Level 3
• Preparing Good Pharmaceutical Practice (GPP) guidelines, pending final Ministry approval
Hon. Duale called on PSK’s leadership to uphold transparency, integrity, and professionalism in supporting the government’s mission to build a resilient and accountable health system that protects every Kenyan.
The CS was joined by Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, and Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth. PSK was represented by its CEO, Dr. Ivy Ratemo, among other senior officials.