By Tom Chiahemen –
AstraZeneca today announced its partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) to launch the Kamba Ya Shanga initiative in Kenya, a pharmacy-led end-to-end digitally integrated patient solution for chronic disease management.
The partnership forms part of their shared vision and commitment to work towards a future where all people have access to sustainable healthcare solutions for life-changing treatment.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have compelled healthcare stakeholders to explore new ways of improving health systems, stimulating the advancement of healthcare ecosystems that focus on securing continuum of care and improving treatment outcomes whilst also enhancing the patient experience.
The Kamba Ya Shanga initiative is a pharmacist-led disease management and referral programme aimed at improving patient outcomes for chronic conditions, connecting all key healthcare players along the patient’s disease management journey. Through the programme patients will be uniquely identified by the pharmacist, have their chronic disease treatment and medication monitored, receive support that ensures optimal treatment and correct use of devices; and be seamlessly referred by the Pharmacist to their General Practitioner should further consultation be required.
CEO of PSK, Dr. Daniella Munene, said: “Pharmacists are very uniquely positioned to expand reach of healthcare services by participating more in the management of chronic diseases. From detection of poorly managed or undiagnosed disease to providing medication therapy management and counselling, pharmacists can have a positive impact on therapeutic outcomes in patients on long-term medication for both communicable and non-communicable diseases.”
AstraZeneca Country President for African Cluster (South Africa, Sub Sahara and French Speaking Africa), Barbara Nel, said: “At AstraZeneca we believe that patient experiences and outcomes are our shared responsibility, and that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. Our Pharmacists play a critical role in the continuance of care for patients, especially in the current landscape. We are delighted to be partnering with PSK in the launch of Kamba Ya Shanga, which is a Swahili term that essentially means ‘a beautiful string of beads’. The string of beads represents the link between the patient, the pharmacist, and the doctor, transforming the ecosystem for patients, whilst enabling pharmacies to direct patients to a relevant healthcare professional and track their progress and response to medication.”
“By joining forces with PSK we look forward to making an even greater positive impact for patients and healthcare practitioners, achieving results that go beyond what any individual stakeholder can achieve. This is the value of partnerships, with the patient at the centre.”
