KENYA – The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) in collaboration with AstraZeneca has launched a pharmacy-led end-to-end digitally integrated patient solution for chronic disease management dubbed ‘Kamba Ya Shanga’.
The Kamba Ya Shanga initiative is a pharmacist-led disease management and referral programme aimed at improving patient outcomes for chronic conditions, connecting all key healthcare players along the patient’s disease management journey.
Through the programme patients will be uniquely identified by the pharmacist, have their chronic disease treatment and medication monitored, receive support that ensures optimal treatment and correct use of devices; and be seamlessly referred by the Pharmacist to their General Practitioner should further consultation be required.
“Pharmacists are very uniquely positioned to expand reach of healthcare services by participating more in the management of chronic diseases,” Dr. Daniella Munene, CEO of Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) said.
From detection of poorly managed or undiagnosed disease to providing medication therapy management and counselling, pharmacists can have a positive impact on therapeutic outcomes in patients on long-term medication for both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
This partnership forms part of PSK’s and the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company’s shared vision and commitment to work towards a future where all people have access to sustainable healthcare solutions for life-changing treatment.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have compelled healthcare stakeholders to explore new ways of improving health systems, stimulating the advancement of healthcare ecosystems that focus on securing continuum of care and improving treatment outcomes whilst also enhancing the patient experience.
According to WHO, NCDs kill 41 million people each year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. 77% of all NCD deaths are in low- and middle-income countries.
Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or 17.9 million people annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (1.5 million). These four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCD deaths.
Speaking on this initiative, Barbara Nel, AstraZeneca Country President for African Cluster said, “By joining forces with PSK we look forward to making an even greater positive impact for patients and healthcare practitioners, achieving results that go beyond what any individual stakeholder can achieve. This is the value of partnerships, with the patient at the centre.”
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