In a groundbreaking move set to transform cancer care in Kenya, the cost of breast cancer treatment will drop by two-thirds from KES 120,000 to KES 40,000 per session following a landmark partnership between the Ministry of Health and Roche East Africa.
The historic agreement, unveiled during an official event presided over by Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale, marks a significant stride toward affordable and equitable healthcare under Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework. The initiative will be implemented through the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA), in collaboration with Roche East Africa.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), all SHA-contracted facilities including public, faith-based, and select private hospitals will offer breast cancer treatment at a capped cost of KES 40,000 per session, with no co-payment required from patients. This move is expected to ease the financial burden on thousands of Kenyan families grappling with cancer treatment costs.
The collaboration also features several high-impact components:
- Expanded access to essential cancer medicines and diagnostics
- Targeted training and capacity-building for healthcare workers in the management of breast and cervical cancer
- Strengthened early detection and screening programs to improve health outcomes and reduce late-stage diagnoses
Breast cancer is among the leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Kenya, with the economic toll from breast and cervical cancer estimated at KES 17 million daily. The new partnership aims to reduce that burden through improved affordability and earlier interventions.
The event drew a distinguished audience including Roche East Africa General Manager Ms. Jacqueline Wambua, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Ms. Mary Muthoni, SHA Chairperson Dr. Abdi Mohamed, and several senior regulators from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC).
The partnership rollout will begin immediately, with nationwide implementation across SHA-accredited facilities expected over the coming months. In tandem, the Ministry of Health will enhance digital health surveillance to eliminate counterfeit drugs and weed out unlicensed practitioners a move seen as critical to safeguarding patient safety and public trust.
As Kenya continues to confront the growing burden of cancer, this collaboration is a vital turning point offering not only hope, but a practical, scalable model for healthcare reform across Africa.
