Regional drugs supplier firms sign deal to cut cost of drugs

Prescription drugs photo:courtesy

Regional drugs supplier MEDS has entered into strategic partnerships with international pharmaceutical companies to cut down the cost of medicines.

The firm announced it has partnered with drug manufacturers such as Novartis, Astra Zeneca, GlaxoSmithkline, Novo Nordisk and Johnson & Johnson.

MEDS chairman Robert Lang’at says under the arrangement, the companies will allow the supplier access to quality branded health products at reduced prices, which will be passed on to patients.

“The aim is to lift the burden of expensive branded medicines off the backs of patients for communicable and non-communicable diseases,” he said during the annual MEDS Day at the company’s offices in Nairobi on Friday attended by more than 200 delegates.

Non-communicable diseases targeted under the partnerships are breast cancer, asthma, hypertension and diabetes, which are some of the most expensive conditions to manage.

DESERVING CASES

Already, Dr Lang’at said, the partnership with Novo Nordisk has helped lower the price of insulin by more than 70 per cent, from a high of Sh2, 000 to Sh500 for 25,000 patients in Kenya.

He said this has been backed by the Sh12 million cold room for insulin launched recently, which was co-financed by MEDS and Novo.

Dr Lang’at said MEDS is also working with the national and county governments to ensure that the quality and affordable medicines and medical supplies benefit the most deserving cases.

He said MEDS has stepped up the fight against counterfeits and substandard drugs, noting that they are a threat to genuine manufacturers and the health of the entire nation.

He said tests done at the MEDS WHO-prequalified laboratory showed counterfeit and substandard medicines are still finding their way into the country.

“MEDS laboratory tests more than 100 samples each month drawn from various countries within the region, hence contributing to the fight against this menace,” said Dr Lang’at.