Kenya is looking to accelerate its push for health self-reliance with a Sh194 billion national strategy aimed at transforming local manufacturing of health products and technologies between 2026 and 2030.
The plan is poised to reduce import dependence and strengthen health security.
The Health Products and Technologies (HPT) Local Manufacturing Strategy seeks to reposition the sector as a driver of economic growth, equity, and investment while addressing long-standing structural weaknesses that have limited domestic production capacity.
The plan identifies a fragmented ecosystem spread across multiple ministries and agencies, which has slowed progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and left the country exposed to supply chain disruptions, geopolitical shocks, and climate-related health risks.
A key focus of the strategy is strengthening the pharmaceutical value chain manufacturing, particularly Level 3 production involving final dosage and fill-finish processes, where a small number of firms currently dominate local output.
It also prioritises scaling up Kenya BioVax Institute for vaccine production, subject to regulatory advancement by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, alongside longer-term investment in higher-value manufacturing segments such as active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and research and development.
The strategy further highlights the need to expand the underdeveloped diagnostics and medical devices sector, which remains heavily import-dependent despite its critical role in healthcare delivery.
To drive implementation, the plan is anchored on three pillars: scale-up and diversification of local production capacity, accelerated regulatory reforms, and stronger demand generation to ensure market stability and investor confidence.
It also calls for deeper public-private collaboration to align commercial sustainability with national health goals, while positioning Kenya as a regional hub for advanced manufacturing and supply chain development.
By de-risking investment in local manufacturing through regulatory alignment, technology partnerships, and regional cooperation, the strategy aims to attract capital for infrastructure upgrades.
Additionally, it seeks to build a more resilient healthcare system that supports both national health security and long-term economic growth.
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