Reduce cost of medicine for asthma, diabetes, Uhuru says

President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on international pharmaceuticals to reduce the cost of medicines against Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

He said fair pricing and ethical practices will ensure patients can afford  the life-saving medicines.

President Kenyatta said access to essential medicines and technologies is key  for effective management of NCDs.

“I call on non-state actors including the pharmaceutical industries and private health service providers to partner with governments to bring down costs of treatment through fair pricing and ethical practices,” said President Kenyatta.

He was addressing a plenary session on the prevention and control of NCDs at the ongoing 73rd session on United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The President said Kenya aims to guarantee access to quality NCD care through an integrated primary health care approach.

The move emphasises preventive and promotive health intervention  that encourages the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

He added that the government has committed itself to investing in additional and sustainable domestic financing to halt and reverse the burden of NCDs.

“To this end, we are embracing strategic partnerships and harnessing innovations from the private sector and other non-state actors in the entire continuum of NCDs,” he said

President Kenyatta however called on the international community to consider putting in place an incentive fund to stimulate the development of national NCD and mental health interventions and policy coherence for low and middle-income countries.

He said under the  Big-4 pillar , Universal Healthcare has prioritised early diagnosis, screening and treatment of chronic NCDs.

Kenya continues to make tremendous progress in implementing the 22 political commitments agreed upon seven years ago  aimed at a 25 per cent reduction in premature mortality occasioned by NCDs in 2025.

The President  said Kenya’s success in this regard has been achieved through the domestication of the previous political declaration that adapted the global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs in the national development blue print.

President Kenyatta assured the global community of Kenya’s support of the 2018 political declaration on NCDs which commits UN-member states to work tirelessly towards the realisation of the commitments against the diseases in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

The declaration was adopted on Thursday at the UN.

The Head of State said Thursday’s meeting presents the world with a rallying point and window of opportunity to evaluate the progress of NCDs within the framework of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Diseases listed under the NCD category include Asthma, Cardio-vascular complications, Diabetes, Cataracts, chronic  Lung and chronic Kidney diseases.