High level round table: Improving health sector performance in Kenya and Tanzania: Is there a future  for the local manufacturing industry?

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The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in collaboration with Research for Poverty Alleviation (REPOA) Tanzania, and the Open University (UK) recently held a high level round table policy dialogue on 17th September 2014 in Nairobi, the dialogue sought to share results from a research project on “Industrial Productivity, Health Sector Performance and Policy Synergies for Inclusive Growth in Tanzania and Kenya”. The study aims at identifying policy options and incentives for enhancing the supply of essential pharmaceutical and medical products in order to strengthen national health system performance in the two countries.

The workshop was designedto explore these findings and the opportunities they present for improving health performance and economic productivity in Eastern Africa. The Policy Dialogue brought together key stakeholders in the national health systems in the region including government agencies and departments; the medical and academic community; the pharmaceutical supply chain; and the broader private sector in Kenya.

Workshop aim

To identify opportunities for improved local industrial supply of health sector commodities— essential medicines, medical equipment and supplies, and other health essentials

To strengthen the functioning of the health systems in Kenya and Tanzania.

Project findings

The workshop started by sharing the key findings of the Tanzania and Kenya cases whereby the results were deliberated upon and policy suggestions made

Tanzania Case study

Kenya case study

The morning session was followed by four working sessions, deliberating on the following topics: 

Session 1: Do Global Standards (GMPS) Offer Opportunities for Improved Competitiveness Or Do They Exclude Local Manufacturer from Markets?

Session 2: Availability and Affordability of Essential Medical Commodities: Current Challenges and Opportunities

Session 3: Supply Chain and Procurement of Essential Medical Commodities: What can be done to Encourage Local Procurement and What Role for Imports?

Session 4: Level of Technological Capabilities in Local productions: Is There Any Scope for evolution into Advance Manufacturing?

Session 5: Plenary for Key Synergies and Wrap-Up

The Policy Roundtable drew lessons from the project findings in the two countries. The study identified policy options and incentives for enhancing the supply of essential pharmaceutical and medical products to strengthen national health system performance in the two countries. Furthermore, the workshop revealed ways in which local production could be improved, in quality and quantity and lessons were drawn in the form of supportive policy and administrative measures that were required.