The Kenyan Health Sector has been playing a critical role in providing health care services in response to the population needs in line with the Kenya Health Policy, 2014-2030’s goal of attaining the highest possible health standards in a manner responsive to the population needs. Overall, the Health Sector strategic focus guided by the Country’s blueprint, Vision 2030 and the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The Kenya Vision 2030 aims to transform Kenya into a globally competitive and prosperous country with a high quality of life by 2030, while the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, guarantees the highest attainable standard of health as a right. The policy direction envisages that investments in health systems will be scaled up for improved health outcomes. One of the eight orientations/investment areas of the Kenya Health Policy (KHP) is Health Products and Technologies (HPT).

The HPT investment area seeks to ensure that effective, safe, and affordable health products and technologies are available and rationally used, while maintaining a strategic national health products and technologies (HPT) reserve. Policy direction regarding HPT is further elaborated in the Kenya National Pharmaceutical Policy of 2012 whose implementation pace has been slow. However, in line with the increased focus through the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals at the global level, this strategy seeks to provide clear direction on HPT supply chain agenda.

HPT Strategy

The Health Sector Strategic focus in Kenya is guided by the Country’s blueprint, Vision 2030 and the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The Kenya Vision 2030 aims to transform Kenya into a globally competitive and prosperous country with a high quality of life by 2030, while the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, guarantees the highest attainable standard of health as a right. To support the achievements of the aspiration of Vision 2030 and the Kenya Constitution, 2010, the Kenya Health Policy, 2014–2030 has, as its goal, ‘Attaining the highest possible health standards in a manner responsive to the population needs’. The Policy has eight orientations/investment areas, one of which is Health Products and Technologies (HPT). The HPT investment area seeks to ensure that effective, safe, and affordable health products and technologies are always available and rationally used , while maintaining a strategic national health products and technologies (HPT) reserve.

The situational analysis undertaken in preparation for this strategy has echoed findings from various reviews undertaken over the last decade – ranging from priority program reviews; facility assessments; KEMSA assessments; reviews preceding development of strategies for county health sectors, national referral institutions and key agencies in the HPT supply chain such as regulatory boards, academic institutions; as well as assurance reviews by Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and Office of Auditor General (OAG). On the positive side, the reviews appreciate the existence of guiding health and pharmaceutical policies, essential drugs list, clinical guidelines and protocols, guidelines for various aspects for commodity managements, establishment of agencies for supporting HPT supply chain such as KEMSA – a remarkable evidence that the Kenyan health sector has increasingly adopted and customized international instruments in the area of essential health products.