Kenya Steps Up Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to Boost Health Security and UHC
Kenya Steps Up Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to Boost Health Security and UHC
Kenya Steps Up Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to Boost Health Security and UHC
Kenya Steps Up Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to Boost Health Security and UHC

Kenya Steps Up Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to Boost Health Security and UHC

MoH News / Tue, 09/09/2025 - 08:06

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Kenya is intensifying efforts to strengthen local pharmaceutical and health product manufacturing through robust policies, infrastructure investment, and strategic partnerships. The goal is to enhance self-reliance, reduce costs, and advance progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, hosted the Federation of Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FKPM), led by Chairperson and Cosmos Limited Managing Director Dr. Vimal Patel, to deepen discussions on expanding local drug production โ€” a key driver of national health sustainability and the Taifa Care Model.

The engagement followed up on the Presidential directive ofย , which committed Kenya to locally manufacture at least 50% of medicines on the Kenya Essential Medicines List (KEML) by 2026. This commitment aims to strengthen the healthcare system, boost local industry, create jobs, and guarantee independence in essential health commodities.

Talks focused on practical measures to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, anchored on national health security priorities. Central to this is the Kenya Local Manufacturing Strategy 2025โ€“2030, designed to scale up production and steer the country toward full self-reliance in Health Products and Technologies (HPTs).

The CS reaffirmed government support for local manufacturers, noting that the initiative will not only transform healthcare delivery but also contribute to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) through economic empowerment and job creation.

In line with reforms, the Ministry is also rolling out digital track-and-trace systems using serialization and blockchain technology to combat counterfeit medicines and safeguard drug authenticity from production to point of care.

Hon. Duale was accompanied by Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni (Public Health and Professional Standards), Director-General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, and senior Ministry of Health officials.