This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
As the world braced for the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya's pharmaceutical industry saw a significant surge in imports. According to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), local pharmaceutical orders increased to 13,897 tonnes between January and March 2020, a growth of 71% from 8,121 tonnes in the same period the previous year.
The increase was largely driven by imported generic medical drugs from Turkey, as people stockpiled due to panic. Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya president Machogu Louis attributed the rise to the importation of medicines and pharmaceutical raw materials from Turkey, following export restrictions imposed on China, Egypt, and India markets.
While local drug manufacturers account for about 25% of the market, imports account for up to 75%, with India being the key market for Kenya. The import bill for medical and pharmaceutical products increased by Sh2.8 billion, to Sh18.17 billion from Sh15.2 billion in the first quarter of 2019.
The surge in imports led to a surge in retail prices for pharmaceutical and medical products, as an artificial shortage emerged due to panic buying. A week before Kenya reported its first Covid-19 case, the price of protective masks tripled from Sh500 to Sh1,700 a pack in the wholesale market.
