Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Wilson Aruasa at a past event. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
In a move that will see the cost of medical services reduce by half in the country, the government is working on a possibility of manufacturing medical equipment and drugs locally.
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Wilson Aruasa said talks are already ongoing over the issue at the Ministry of Health.
Speaking in Eldoret on Friday, Dr Aruasa said once successful, the country will be able to not only drastically reduce the cost of medical services in the country but also achieve universal health care to its citizens.
"We are looking at that possibility on a national level where the ministry is seeking to partner with big international companies and see how we can manufacture the equipment locally,” said Dr Aruasa.
“Today it costs Sh100 million to import a CT-scan from Europe but I can tell you for a fact that if manufactured locally, it will cost between Sh40-50 million," he added.
Dr Aruasa also said that the government is working towards manufacturing drugs locally since they no longer have patent rights.
He said the move will enable the country to bring down the cost of drugs to the same level as India.