Kenya Deepens Cancer Fight with New MoH-Roche Partnership

Kenya’s push for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) took a major leap forward today as the Ministry of Health signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Roche, a leading global pharmaceutical company, to enhance access to cancer care and diagnostics.

Presiding over the event, Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale officially launched the collaboration between the Ministry through the Social Health Authority (SHA) and Roche East Africa.This partnership aims to strengthen financial protection for patients battling cancer, one of Kenya’s leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in line with the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale lauded the partnership as a critical step in advancing financial protection for Kenyans battling cancer one of the country’s leading non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

“This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our journey towards UHC,” said CS Duale. “Together with Roche, we aim to eliminate financial barriers to cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes through early detection, affordable treatment, and capacity building.”

Under the agreement, Roche will provide access to HerceptinⓇ 600mg SC and other HER2-positive breast cancer innovations to eligible Social Health Authority (SHA) beneficiaries.

HER2-positive breast cancer, which accounts for up to 20 percent of cases, requires targeted treatment that many patients previously found unaffordable.

The Ministry, through SHA, will ensure the availability of these therapies across all SHA-contracted facilities including public, private, and faith-based hospitals. Notably, the cost per treatment session has been reduced from Ksh. 120,000 to Ksh. 40,000, with no co-payment required from patients.

Reimbursements will be made through the Social Health Insurance Fund and the Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.Roche will also support improved cancer diagnostics by establishing a sample referral framework and training healthcare workers in breast and cervical cancer management.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to equitable, life-saving cancer care,” Duale said. “We thank Roche for standing with us in delivering quality health services to every Kenyan.”