German Pharmaceuticals Giant Enters the East African Market

German pharmaceutical, chemical and life science company Merck has opened offices in Nairobi. The opening is part of the company’s strategy to grow its market share in East Africa.

 

Merck’s entry into the volatile regional pharma market is expected to heighten competition at a time when the cost of drugs remains beyond reach to most households and the counterfeiting menace is at its peak.

Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, chairman of the board of partners of E. Merck KG and member of the Merck family, said: “Merck is confident about the move. Kenya is the leading economy in East Africa. Furthermore, the country’s strategic location and its well developed business infrastructure will enable us to boost our business in the region.”

He said  Merck will also provide accessible and equitable health care in Kenya and will thus contribute to the country’s social and economic development.

Elcin Ergun, Senior Vice President of Merck Serono, Intercontinental Region explained: “We are very excited about our entry to Kenya and are fully committed to partner with the government, healthcare institutions, academics and other stakeholders to develop, and deliver solutions to increase access to health solutions. Our diabetes awareness campaigns started early this year and capacity & capability development programs kicked off in the Nairobi University are just the beginning of these programs which we will continue and broaden in time. ”

The launch event was presided over by Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia.

 “Our ministry is especially delighted to partner with a company that is committed to providing sustainable access to high quality, safe medication and health solutions in developing countries.”

He emphasized that the ministry welcomes strategic partnerships like these and that the opening of Merck’s offices in Kenya will boost the health care sector and will lead to economic progress as it will create job opportunities and provide other resources as well.

Macharia also applauded Merck for its capacity advancement program – CAP that was launched early this year. The program aims at expanding the professional capacity in Africa in the areas of research and development, clinical research, supply chain integrity and efficiency, pharmacovigilance, community awareness and medical education for students in the University of Nairobi and beyond.

With Merck’s long experience in diabetes management, beginning 1957 with the development of Metformin, the company seeks to raise awareness of diabetes   in Africa by educating the public and supporting the health care system to prevent, diagnose and manage the condition effectively.

As a part of Merck Capacity Advancement Program, more than 1.000 medical students from the University of Nairobi will benefit from a European accredited clinical diabetes management training, which is seeking to equip them with skills to avert the diabetes epidemic.

This three year scientific educational program will be offered by the Serono Symposia International Foundation (SSIF), an independent organization providing medical education programs accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME).