Kenya
Kenya
For more than 25 years, we have partnered with the Government of Kenya to strengthen its health system─from improving health financing to effectively implement programs that improve pharmaceutical and laboratory systems, health information, and the capacity of health care workers.
MedSource: Kenya’s First Group Purchasing Organization
At least 10% of drugs sold in Africa are thought by WHO to be falsified or substandard. To make quality and safe medicines affordable to more Kenyans, we founded MedSource, a group purchasing organization. MedSource offers its members—such as pharmacies and hospitals—the opportunity to purchase medicines and supplies from prequalified distributors and manufacturers at discount prices. By aggregating the purchasing power of a large group of members, MedSource is able to lower costs and ensure that safe, quality drugs are purchased and distributed. Members also receive business support and financing options. More than 700 health care professionals have received training in pharmacy, financial, regulatory, and inventory management. Launched in 2017, MedSource plans to expand throughout Kenya and, eventually, other African countries.
Overview
We work with local health leaders and service providers in Kenya to improve access to quality, patient-centered family planning and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services. Over the years, our work has focused on strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains to improve distribution, forecasting, quantification, inventory management, and supply planning for medicines and health commodities needed to improve maternal and child health and reach national goals for the control of HIV and TB. We are helping to improve infection prevention and control capacity, optimize the use of antimicrobial medicines, and strengthen multisectoral coordination for containing antimicrobial resistance in Kenya. In line with these activities, we have supported the country in its efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 by implementing a national strategy in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and county governments.
Q&A: MedSource CEO Vinod Guptan on Making Supply Chains More Innovative in Kenya
Kenya’s Primary Health Care Networks Can Help Deliver Better Care for All
MSH has partnered with the Kenya Ministry of Health to generate critical data for assessing the performance of primary health care (PHC) facilities in six counties, looking at key indicators on their performance, expenditures, and resource needs using MSH’s PHC Costing Tool. As other countries consider new models to promote more efficient PHC service delivery, Kenya’s experience with primary health care networks highlights several key recommendations and takeaways.
Related Projects
The Medicines, Technologies, and Pharmaceutical Services (MTaPS) Program
Job Opportunities in Kenya
Join us as we help solve the world’s public health challenges through innovation, dedication, and technical excellence. We are looking for talented, passionate people to join us—as employees, consultants, and interns—in advancing our mission to save lives and improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
