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By Nanjinia Wamuswa
Leading pharmaceutical manufacturing company, GlaxoSmithKline, has cut of prices of its key essential drugs by about 50 per cent to improve access.
This will see the prices of drugs manufactured and sold by the company in developing countries fall to as little as 25 per cent of prices elsewhere.
While announcing the price cut during a media briefing at Serena hotel yesterday, GSK East Africa Managing Director, John Musunga, said it was part of the company’s shifting focus from a high margin-low volume drive to a lower margin- high volume business model.
Quality products
"The high prices of medicines have been a key barrier to patients accessing quality medicines. We have realised that there’s a strong desire among healthcare providers to prescribe quality products, but the price was a major barrier," said Musunga.
Musunga also blamed the high cost of drugs for the proliferation of counterfeit medicines, which pose a health risk to patients.
The company manufactures a range of pharmaceutical products, which include anti-infectives – including ntibacterials, antibiotics, antifungals, antiprotozoan – respiratory medicines, dermatologicals, vaccines, ARV medicines and anasthesia and critical care medicines.
He pointed out the move will not come at the expense of quality.
"The product quality of which GSK was well known for will be maintained. They will be of highest quality standards but more affordable to their entire spectrum of patients," he explained.
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