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{
    "id": 1341037,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1341037/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 307,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr Susan Nakhumicha",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Speaker, epilepsy is one of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that is a top priority for the Ministry of Health. Objective two of the Kenya Health Policy 2014-2030 has prioritised interventions to halt and reverse the rising burden of NCDs. Management of epilepsy is multi-modal, including the use of medicines; that is, anticonvulsants, surgery to remove the part of the brain responsible for the seizures and placing a small electrical device inside the body that can help control seizures. Drugs for epilepsy management are offered at Level 4 Hospitals and higher-level health facilities according to the Kenya Essential Medicines List. This is because such medicines need to be prescribed by specialists; namely, psychiatrists, physicians, neurologists or senior medical officers, whose numbers are limited in public health facilities. As more specialists are trained and eventually deployed by the county governments, access to anti-epileptic drugs will improve. In line with our task-sharing policy, we have embarked on training of medical officers and clinical officers to manage persons living with epilepsy. This will ensure that patients have access to anti-epileptic medicines as the facilities will have trained healthcare workers to prescribe and monitor the use of these medications. On the second part of the Question, my Ministry is working with the pharmaceutical sector and other stakeholders on pricing guidelines for health products and technology to address the uncontrolled mark-up on pharmaceutical products, which is a major driver of increasing costs of medicines along the supply chain. Additionally, we are working on strategies for pooled procurement targeting expensive medicines that may not be accessible to a critical segment of the population. The long-term plan is to promote local manufacturing of health products and technologies and prioritise preferential procurement of locally manufactured medicines and medical commodities. To increase access to anti-epileptic medicines, my Ministry has been holding consultations with the county governments on the need to enhance availability of NCDs medicines, including anti-epileptic drugs. Improving access to anti-epileptic medicines will improve the quality of life of patients suffering from epilepsy, leading to better productivity. On the third part of the Question, stigma against epilepsy is real and is mainly due to lack of information by the general public about the disease. Epilepsy is a priority NCD for my Ministry as captured in the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of NCDs 2022-2026. My Ministry has undertaken the following interventions towards epilepsy management and support: (i) Developed Epilepsy Management Guidelines that will guide healthcare workers on the prevention, control and management of epilepsy. These Guidelines are important in ensuring uniform standard quality care is offered along the continuum of care. The Guidelines also include aspects of patient education and self-care that will enable patients to manage their condition better at home. (ii) Included epilepsy in the training manual for Community Health Promoters (CHPs). In this module, CHPs are trained on early detection and referral of patients suspected to have epilepsy. They are additionally trained on how to educate and sensitise the public on epilepsy, hence reducing stigma about the disease. (iii) In order to raise the profile of the disease, the Ministry of Health has been encouraging counties to commemorate the World Epilepsy Day on the 2nd Monday of The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}