Novartis has launched its access scheme, debuting in Keyna, aimed at expanding affordable treatments for chronic diseases.
Novartis Access is a new portfolio of 15 medicines targeted against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses and breast cancer for low and low-middle income countries.
The Novartis portfolio is being offered to the Kenyan government, NGOs and public-sector healthcare providers for $1 per treatment per month.
Joerg Reinhardt, chairman of the Novartis board, said: “Novartis and Kenya have a relationship of more than 40 years, so I am delighted that Kenyan patients will be the first to benefit from Novartis Access.
“The successful implementation of the program in Kenya will be essential to guide the expansion of Novartis Access to other countries in the future.”
It is estimated that around 28 million people die from chronic diseases in low income countries each year and in Kenya this amounts to 100,000 ever year.
By 2030, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will contribute more than 60% of national mortality and earlier this year the Kenyan government launched a strategy to prevent, control and manage these conditions.
As part of its efforts in this area, Novartis is also collaborating with Boston University in the US to assess the impact on health in Kenya as well as continue to drive forward the Novartis Access scheme.
Dr Abbas Gullet, secretary general of the Kenya Red Cross added: “Novartis is making an important contribution to fighting NCDs, but in order for Novartis Access to make a long-term impact, we need to drive it locally.”
Novartis Access will also be launched in Vietnam and Ethiopia with further plans to roll the programme out to 30 countries depending on demand.
The company expects its approach to be commercially sustainable over the long term allowing it to provide continuous support in these regions.