Kenya recorded 44,726 new cancer cases and 29,317 cancer deaths in 2022, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, with more than 102,000 people living with cancer diagnosed within the previous five years.
For many patients, the challenge is not only confronting the disease but also finding the money to pay for treatment. The cost of cancer medicines, diagnostics and specialized care remains a major barrier, with some patients forced to delay or abandon treatment because they cannot afford it.
Against this backdrop, the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations, KENCO, has welcomed an agreement between the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, KEMSA, and pharmaceutical company Pfizer aimed at substantially reducing the cost of selected cancer medicines.
KENCO says the reduction could make the KSh800,000 annual oncology benefit under the Social Health Authority, SHA, more effective, particularly for patients who require several treatment cycles.
According to the organisation, reducing the cost of cancer medicines “has the potential to significantly increase the real value of the KES 800,000 oncology benefit available under SHA and enable more patients to complete the treatment prescribed to them.”
The organization, however, says lower prices must be accompanied by reliable access.
KENCO is calling for clear and accessible information on the specific medicines covered by the agreement, their negotiated prices, participating health facilities, eligibility criteria and timelines for availability. It also wants the medicines to be consistently supplied through KEMSA and made accessible to patients across the country rather than concentrated in a few major referral hospitals.
It says the medicines must be “consistently available through the KEMSA supply chain and accessible to cancer patients across the country,” warning that availability will be critical if the price reductions are to translate into meaningful savings for patients.
The concerns come as the KEMSA-Pfizer agreement promises a dramatic reduction in the price of some cancer medicines. Treatments that previously cost patients as much as KSh1 million per cycle could fall to below KSh50,000, representing a reduction of more than 95 percent.
The agreement covers selected medicines used to treat breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate and esophageal cancers, as well as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
President William Ruto announced the agreement after meeting Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla at State House in Nairobi. The government says the deal is intended to make essential cancer medicines more affordable and improve access to treatment.
For patients, the potential savings are substantial. A treatment cycle costing KSh1 million and falling below KSh50,000 could save more than KSh950,000 for a single cycle. For patients requiring several cycles, the reduction could significantly change the overall cost of treatment.
The agreement also comes as Kenya expands financial protection for cancer patients. The SHA oncology package has increased from KSh550,000 to potentially KSh800,000 annually, with coverage broadened to include diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy and other specialised interventions. KENCO says its advocacy on affordable and comprehensive cancer care contributed to the expansion.
But cheaper medicines alone may not resolve Kenya’s cancer treatment affordability problem.
Cancer care can involve biopsies and other diagnostic tests, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hospital care and long-term follow-up. Patients may also face transport costs and lost income, particularly when specialist services are concentrated in major urban centres.
KENCO is therefore also calling for efficient SHA authorisation, prompt reimbursement of healthcare providers and accessible diagnostic services. It says patients with approved oncology benefits should not continue facing unexpected additional payments when seeking care.
The organisation says it will continue engaging the SHA, Ministry of Health, KEMSA, healthcare providers and other partners to address the remaining implementation gaps and ensure that policy commitments translate into meaningful improvements for people affected by cancer.
For KENCO, the ultimate measure of success is whether the reforms prevent patients from having to choose between treatment and their ability to meet other basic needs.
“The ultimate advocacy win will be when no Kenyan abandons, delays or interrupts cancer treatment because they cannot afford the medicines, diagnostics or care they need,” KENCO says.
The KEMSA-Pfizer agreement therefore represents a potentially significant shift in the cost of selected cancer medicines. But its impact will ultimately depend on what happens beyond the announcement: whether the medicines are available, covered effectively by SHA and accessible to patients across Kenya when they need them.
