The Kenyan government plans to open direct negotiations with Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies to reduce the cost of essential medicines, according to a report from kbc.co.ke.
President William Ruto made the announcement, stating that the government will engage drug manufacturers on pricing, as reported by the Kenyan broadcaster. The report, published Thursday, did not specify which medicines are targeted or when the talks would begin.
The move signals a more interventionist approach by Nairobi to address the affordability of critical drugs. Rather than relying solely on distributors or importers to set prices, the government is seeking to deal directly with the manufacturers who hold the patents and set the base costs.
kbc.co.ke reports that the engagement is part of a broader effort to make essential treatments more accessible to Kenyans. The exact list of medicines and companies beyond Pfizer was not disclosed in the available reporting.
The announcement comes amid ongoing global debates over drug pricing, where developing nations have often pushed for lower costs from multinational pharmaceutical firms. Kenya's decision to name Pfizer specifically suggests the government is prioritizing negotiations with the largest players in the market.
What to watch next: whether the talks yield concrete price cuts and which specific drugs are included in the scope of the negotiations.
