Former Lawmaker Swarup Mishra has made a case for transfer and utilization of Russian medical technologies in Kenya and Africa. He said effective Cooperation with Moscow in Healthcare will help the continent address its health challenges.
He said introduction of innovative drugs and medical products to the African market, improving the accessibility of medical education, and ensuring continuous availability of strategically vital medicines and medical devices for citizens should shape the two sides’ cooperation agenda on health.
Mishra, who was one of the panelists on health during the Russia-African Summit, says the medical technologies from Russia are unique and advanced and can be used to treat conditions that now remain a major challenge to the country particularly the non-communicable diseases.
“The most challenging health conditions such as non-communicable diseases can be handled using Russia’s advanced medicine solutions. We should import more Russian medical technologies to Kenya and Africa,” he said in an event organized by the Roscongress Foundation’s Russia’s Healthy Life project.
City drugs, innovations, technologies from Russia, he believes there have been less or inadequate information and exposure to country’s cutting edge technologies in the sector, which he says are amongst the best in the world.
“Our African countries have less and inadequate information and exposure to Russia technologies as well as Russia’s health facility landscape. Russia is ready for partnership, technology transfer and training with us and it is time we collaborate extensively,” he told Eric Biegon of KBC Digital
Amid his call, Mishra, who is the Chairman of Mediheal Group of Hospitals in Africa and Middle East expressed optimism saying Kenya under President William Ruto is making huge strides in efforts aimed at providing quality and affordable he healthcare for all.
“Universal Healthcare Coverage is at the center of President William Ruto’s development agenda. He is a great advocate and great voice on UHC. I believe the President is making huge strides in efforts aimed at providing quality and affordable healthcare for all,” he reiterated
In President William Ruto’s health agenda, the government is keen on reversing a trend where almost 60 per cent of patients go to referral institutions instead of dispensaries, health centres, or Level 3 or 4 hospitals because there are no health professionals at the same medical facilities, or there are no drugs.
“We must figure out how to start at the bottom of the pyramid. Starting with the dispensary, while the community health worker will be empowered sufficiently to deal with challenges at the roots,” he said.
“If the dispensary is working, if the health centre is fine, that’s the only way Level 4-5 hospitals will work,” added the President when he made public his plan on investments in healthcare sector
With Moscow expressing willingness to effective cooperation, Mishra believes this presents a myriad of great opportunities for President Ruto’s agenda to turn around Kenyans health sector fortunes.
The Healthy Life project organizes a number of events dedicated to effective international cooperation between Russia and the African continent in the field of healthcare. The project hosted various events aimed at fostering effective international cooperation between Russia and the African continent in the healthcare sector.
A prominent highlight among these events was presentation of the ‘Medicine cluster,’ jointly organized by the Healthy Life project and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, with the backing of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
During the health sessions, 25 prominent Russian organizations representing the country’s pharmaceutical industry displayed the latest advancements and best practices in domestic healthcare, as well as demonstrate breakthrough scientific and technological developments in medicine and pharmaceuticals to official foreign delegations. Additionally, the cluster will highlight Russia’s leading medical universities and advanced medical institutions, including medical tourism centres.
