In a major boost to Kenya’s fight against cancer, the Ministry of Health has entered into a landmark partnership with Roche Pharmaceuticals to reduce the cost of cancer treatment.
The new agreement, announced by Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale, will see the cost of cancer therapy drop from KSh. 120,000 to KSh 40,000 per session.
Most notably, the reduced cost will be fully covered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, with no co-payment required from patients.
“Cancer is not just a health crisis; it is a national emergency. No Kenyan should die of suffering due to delayed healthcare,” said CS Duale.
The announcement comes at a time when cancer continues to claim thousands of lives across the country.
According to Dr. Elias Melly, CEO of the National Cancer Institute of Kenya, “We are currently recording over 44,000 cases of cancer every year and 28,000 deaths annually.”
CS Duale explained that the partnership aims to ease the financial burden faced by cancer patients, many of whom struggle to access life-saving treatments due to high costs.
The Ministry of Health has pledged to expand cancer services and ensure equitable access across all counties.
This initiative is part of broader reforms to make healthcare more affordable and accessible, especially for patients battling chronic and life-threatening conditions.