Govt. Roche explore new areas of partnership
Posted on :Thursday , 20th October 2016
The Ministry of Health and Roche Kenya Limited are exploring additional areas of partnershipto lift the cancer burden in the country, after successfully signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)last August.
The two institutions held a meeting on Monday, to sought waysof working together to provide technical expertisetoexplore effective models of reimbursement, improve access to treatment and diagnostics, as well as maintenance of diagnostic equipment.
Health Cabinet Secretary,Dr.CleopaMailuexplained that the government will clear bottlenecks that delay the clearance of medical equipment and spare parts that are required for critical care.
He added that the government willalso look into ways of fast-tracking the clearance of medical devices in order to ease business and foster private-public partnerships.
“How do we fast-track clearance systems for medical devices that are lifesaving? These should not be tied upand the government is in good engagement with the private sector so we will find a mechanism,” assured Dr.Mailu.
Hoffmann La-Roche Global Chairman,Dr. Christoph Franz had urged the government to put in place measures that will hasten the clearance process for medical equipment. He observed that Kenya is a strategic partner, andthat it is important to reduce the time taken to clear medical equipment to ensure that they reach patients in good time.
“We need strategic partners to start with and Kenyahas been the most prominent example for us. We however have to bring in all these elements of diagnostic treatment and access to patients. Maybe we should have emergency clearance for medical equipment and their spare parts,” he argued.
The MoU between the Ministry of Health and Roche Kenya Limited focuses on enhancing healthcare for breast cancer patients. It was signed three months ago and planned to increase access to breast cancer treatment;conduct breast cancer awareness programs, improve screening and diagnostics, train five new oncologists and six oncology nurses and provide surgical oncology training.
Through the partnership, low-income earning patients would also access a specific breast cancer drug for free with the government and Roche jointly covering the costs. Already, a diagnostic machine that is capable of advanced testing of seven different types of cancer has been donated to the Kenyatta National Hospital through the partnership. The only other facilities that havesuch a machine are Lancet Laboratories Kenya and the Aga Khan University Hospital.
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