The Ministry of Health, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), and Roche signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) today that will make Herceptin, a revolutionary breast cancer medication, available to all NHIF members without the need to pay a financial supplement.
This is Kenya’s first national cancer medicine access initiative, and it’s a critical step toward guaranteeing that Kenyan women with breast cancer have access to standard-of-care therapy.
Roche will also support capacity building and training of NHIF and Ministry of Health staff on data management, health economics, pricing, and reimbursement approaches by independent, external experts as part of the deal.
Furthermore, under the terms of the agreement, Roche will continue to improve patient screening and early diagnosis, as well as referral channels to treatment centers.
“Cancer is one of the critical public health concerns of our day,” Susan Mochache, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Health, remarked at the signing of today’s MOU.
Every year, 6,000 new cases of breast cancer are discovered in Kenya, resulting in agony, mental distress, and financial strain. To assist lessen the burden of breast cancer, the Ministry of Health is already enhancing screening and diagnostic services in National and County facilities around the country.
The MOU signed today with Roche is the next stage in our efforts to ensure that breast cancer patients can now get care through the NHIF without having to pay a co-payment. This means individuals may concentrate on their health and well-being, and financial constraints will not prevent them from receiving care.”
Breast cancer is Kenya’s most often diagnosed cancer, with 6,000 cases diagnosed each year and 2,500 fatalities due to the disease. The economic impact of breast cancer is significant, including both health-care costs and lost productivity owing to morbidity and cancer-related death.
Early detection, in combination with effective treatment options such as surgical removal, radiation therapy, or drug therapy (hormonal, pharmacological, or biological therapies), can result in survival rates of 90% or higher.