Kenya's healthcare inequality persists as self-care, local production gain momentum

Medical Services PS Ouma Oluga, delivers his speech during the stakeholders' breakfast session at Haleon Kenya factory. [Benard Orwongo,Standard]

Despite efforts to expand healthcare coverage, a significant portion of the population still struggles to access quality, affordable treatment, especially in rural and low-income areas.

A new health index released this week has laid bare these gaps, warning that failure to address them could stall both health outcomes and economic progress.

The findings were unveiled during a stakeholder breakfast hosted by Haleon Kenya, formerly GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Kenya, which also marked its transition to a new brand identity focused on self-care and local health solutions.

The session brought together senior government officials, health professionals, trade partners and regulators to discuss how inclusivity, innovation and local manufacturing can close the country's persistent health access gap.

Dr Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, said Kenya's current reliance on imported medicines and equipment exposes the system to dangerous disruptions, especially during crises.

"Only 20 per cent of the medicines on our essential list are produced locally. We want to move that to 50 per cent, not as a dream, but as a policy priority," he said. "We must stop relying on the goodwill of donors. It's on us now."

The third edition of the Health Inclusivity Index, developed by Haleon in collaboration with The Economist Impact, highlighted the link between health inequality and economic performance.

It showed that countries making inclusive healthcare investments stand to unlock billions in savings and productivity gains.

Paul Arunga, Haleon Kenya's Site Director, noted that the company's Nairobi-based facility produces 28 million health units annually, serving both local and regional markets.

"Our rebrand is more than cosmetic. It signals our mission to deliver better everyday health with humanity, backed by sustainable production and strong partnerships," he said.

Self-care emerged as a central theme. Evah Amwayi, Head of Regulatory Affairs for Sub-Saharan Africa, cautioned that while self-testing and pharmacy-based consultations are rising, they carry risks if not properly supported.

"People are relying on Google and ChatGPT. That's the reality. But without guidance, this shift to self-care could backfire," she said.

"We're working to ensure pharmacies are ready, patients are informed, and the system supports responsible self-care."

The UK's Regional Director for Trade and Investment, Richlove Mensah, welcomed Haleon's investments, calling them a strong example of UK-Kenya collaboration in health and manufacturing.

"Local production strengthens supply chains, creates jobs and ensures timely access to medicine. But for this to scale, regulatory reform must keep pace," he said.

The government has committed to support partnerships that prioritise local production, health financing and community-level care. "We're not just rebuilding healthcare. We're redesigning it, with every Kenyan in mind," said Oluga.