Deputy President William Ruto has pledged to invest in the manufacturing sector to create jobs and enable the country to make pharmaceutical products locally.
Speaking at Catholic University of Eastern Africa during the health economic forum, DP Ruto said Kenya Medical Supply Authority (Kemsa) cartels are making it impossible for local manufacturers to access the Kenyan market.
This followed a complaint by medics that the cost of healthcare wouldn’t be affordable as long as inputs that are used to manufacture drugs are taxed.
“We will have a competitive, transparent and stakeholder driven procurement of health products, as well as local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, which must inform creation of job opportunities. During a routine tour of Coast region, I interacted with a trader, who said that, despite being able to export his products to far-flung areas, he has been unable to access the Kenyan market. This is because of cartels, which must be done away with,” he said.
He added that his government will set up an electronic health records management system to avoid duplication of effort and reduce costs incurred by patients, especially those who are referred from one hospital to another.
This article was first published on Nation.Africa
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