Healthcare Program Enrolls 10,000 Patients in Diabetes and Hypertension Care
Nairobi, Kenya, March 16, 2026 — The Access to Healthcare program by Boehringer Ingelheim, implemented in partnership with mPharma, has surpassed a major milestone after enrolling more than 10,000 new patients into long-term care for hypertension and type 2 diabetes.
Launched in 2022, the program reached more than 150,000 people across Kenya in the past year through community-based screening and care initiatives aimed at tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The milestone comes at a time when NCDs are increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Kenya. According to a study published in BMC Health Services Research, such diseases account for approximately 27 percent of deaths in the country. Globally, the crisis is even more severe, with the World Health Organization estimating that 82 percent of premature deaths from NCDs occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Despite the rising burden, many patients remain undiagnosed or struggle to maintain treatment due to barriers such as high costs, long distances to health facilities and limited follow-up support. Delayed diagnosis and interruptions in treatment often lead to preventable complications that strain both households and the healthcare system.
However, experience from the Access to Healthcare program suggests that structured follow-up can significantly improve treatment continuity. A 2025 patient assessment conducted after more than 12 months in the program found that out of 93 eligible participants, 59 completed a phone-based survey, with 81 percent demonstrating strong knowledge of symptom recognition, disease management and appropriate responses to complications.
The program was designed to address these gaps through a structured care pathway rather than one-off interventions. It combines community-based screening, treatment through linked health facilities and at least 12 months of nurse-led follow-up and coaching to support patients in maintaining long-term care.
Commenting on the milestone, Hale Asikoglu, Head of Sustainable Development for Generations, IMETA at Boehringer Ingelheim, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems while expanding access to treatment.
“Kenya represents both an urgent need and a powerful opportunity to rethink how healthcare systems respond to chronic disease,” Asikoglu said. “Through Access to Healthcare, we are expanding access to treatment and helping build a sustainable, patient-centred model that strengthens health systems and closes long-standing gaps in continuity of care.”
He added that the initiative forms part of the company’s Sustainable Development for Generations strategy, which aims to expand access to healthcare for 50 million people by 2030, particularly in underserved communities.
