President William Ruto has pledged to deepen engagement with international pharmaceutical manufacturers in a bid to lower the cost of essential medicines for Kenyans, particularly those living with chronic diseases. 
By Fredrick Kioko,
President William Ruto has pledged to deepen engagement with international pharmaceutical manufacturers in a bid to lower the cost of essential medicines for Kenyans, particularly those living with chronic diseases.
Speaking at the conclusion of the two-day Kenya Health Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Ruto said the government would explore new partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers to make medicines more affordable and accessible.
The President also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturers, saying efforts would be made to reduce the cost of packaging materials and create a more sustainable environment for local production.
“We shall work together to find a win-win solution of reducing the cost of packaging materials and, ultimately, make medicines more affordable,” Ruto said.
Ruto also announced plans to work with the Council of Governors and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to address what he described as underlying remuneration challenges affecting healthcare workers employed by county governments.
The President said resolving the challenges would help bring an end to recurrent strikes by healthcare workers in the counties, which have disrupted the delivery of essential medical services.
The President further said the government would continue strengthening the Social Health Authority (SHA) while collecting and analyzing data to improve the means-testing system used to determine healthcare contributions.
According to Ruto, the government wants to ensure that every Kenyan’s contribution to healthcare financing is assessed fairly and reflects their ability to pay.
He said the continued refinement of the system would help make healthcare financing more equitable while ensuring that vulnerable Kenyans are adequately protected.
Ruto closed the summit with an interactive listening session that gave Kenyans an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns and expectations regarding the country’s healthcare system.
The President said the discussions reinforced the importance of citizens playing an active role in protecting their own health.
He noted that healthcare does not begin only in hospitals, but also with everyday choices, including diet and other lifestyle decisions.
“Ultimately, our health begins with the choices we make every day, including what we eat,” Ruto said.
The two-day summit brought together government officials, healthcare stakeholders and members of the public to discuss reforms and strategies aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the country.
