KENYA – The Government of Kenya, through the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), has entered into a strategic partnership deal with pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ LLC, locally known as Janssen Kenya, to enhance prostate cancer drugs access.

The partnership will ensure that prostate cancer patients covered by the national insurer can promptly access an innovator prescription drug manufactured and distributed by Janssen Kenya as part of a strategic development to expand access to quality treatment regimes in Kenya.

The prescription only drug named Abiraterone Acetate used for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer will be made available to NHIF members within their existing benefits package in a landmark decision that will help boost local access to innovator drugs.

Financing of health expenses is essential to achieve the Universal Health Care (UHC) goal, which seeks to ensure all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.

The partnership will significantly contribute to Kenya’s ongoing foundation building to ensure the success of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) national rollout particularly UHC’s ambitious goal to advance access to quality cancer treatment and dialysis services needed by all Kenyans without any financial hardships.

In addition, the pact will in combatting the growing cancer burden in Kenya where cancer accounts for approximately 10 percent of all disease mortalities reported in the country with 42,000 new cancer cases and 27,000 deaths reported every year.

The healthcare deal is also aligned with Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson commitment to boosting access to safe, effective medicines and life-saving vaccines in emerging economies for the most vulnerable patients through public-private partnerships.

The partnership with NHIF is one of Janssen’s partnerships to rollout new access models and equitable pricing strategies that improve the availability of the manufacturer’s medicines to patients in emerging countries such as Kenya.

Prior to the prostate cancer drugs partnership, the Ministry of Health and NHIF partnered to actively engage innovative pharmaceutical companies to seal similar private-public partnership agreements that will facilitate access to innovator drugs at affordable rates.

“We are proud to be associated with Janssen for taking the lead in opening up access to an innovator drug such as Abiraterone Acetate, which will enhance positive health outcomes for prostate cancer patients,” acknowledged Ministry of Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache.

The National Hospital Insurance Fund has reviewed and expanded the range of benefits available for cancer patients geared towards alleviating the plight of cancer patients and increase access to medication.

NHIF CEO Dr. Peter Kamunyo said that the Fund’s core mandate is to provide medical insurance cover to all its members by ensuring that the range of benefits remains value-filled, adding that the insurer is negotiating for innovations where the cost of life-saving medication fits within the packages offered.

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