In Kenya, over 70 per cent of pharmaceuticals are imported through fragmented supply chains, leaving room for falsified medicines to enter the market, this is according to a white paper co-authored by CFAO Healthcare and the OPALS Foundation.
The most common falsified medication are antibiotics, HIV/AIDS antiretroviral, antimalarial, pain killers and opioids. In Africa, over 100,000 lives are lost each year due to the use of falsified antimalarial drugs.
In 2023 alone, malaria claimed 569,000 lives in Africa out of 246 million reported cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).This whitepaper report paints a grim picture of a continent grappling with a growing public health threat as fake medicines infiltrate already vulnerable healthcare systems.
Speaking at the release of the White paper Ken Accajou, Deputy CEO, CFAO Healthcare & Head of English and Portuguese-speaking Area Retail said, “The medicine distribution crisis in Africa is not just a supply chain issue but a matter of life and death. While Kenya is doing well because of a strong private sector, this white paper is a call to action: we must strengthen official channels and empower local health systems to better protect our people.”
The white paper titled ‘Securing the Medicine Distribution Network in Africa’ is the result of collaboration between CFAO Healthcare, the OPALS Foundation, and key players across the healthcare ecosystem like government agencies, pharmacists, NGOs, and medical laboratories.It draws on expert analysis and real world real world testimonials to drive actionable change and foster a safer, more accessible and efficient pharmaceutical system for all.
Gavin Pearson, CEO of CFAO Healthcare Kenya, emphasized the urgency needed in securing the pharmaceutical supply chain and eliminating falsified drugs from the market.
“Kenya has made great strides in healthcare, but the fight against counterfeit medicines remains a major challenge, our aim with this publication is to educate on the importance of the quality of the medicine that you are going to deliver to your children, to your husband, to your wife and to your family.”
He said adding, “By bringing together government, regulators, and private sector players, we can build a safer and more transparent pharmaceutical supply chain. Our goal at CFAO Healthcare Kenya is to ensure that every patient receives genuine, high-quality medicine, no matter where they are.”
Kenya locally manufactures 30 per cent of its medicines, the report calls on stakeholders to expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing, invest in official distribution networks and boost public awareness to protect lives and restore trust in health systems across the continent.
