Boehringer Ingelheim–mPharma Initiative Expands Chronic Disease Care as Kenya Faces Rising NCD Burden

The Access to Healthcare program by Boehringer Ingelheim, launched in 2022 in partnership with mPharma, has reached more than 150,000 people across the country last year and has newly enrolled over 10,000 patients into long-term care for hypertension and type 2 diabetes, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The milestone comes against the backdrop of a steadily worsening NCD crisis in Kenya, according to a study published in BMC Health Services Research, non-communicable diseases account for approximately 27% of deaths in Kenya. Globally, the challenge is even more pronounced.

According to the World Health Organization, 82% of premature deaths from NCDs occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Despite this growing burden, many patients remain undiagnosed or struggle to stay in continuous care due to barriers such as cost, distance to health facilities, and limited follow-up support. Late diagnosis and treatment interruption continue to drive preventable complications, placing increasing strain on both families and the healthcare system. However, experience from the Access to Healthcare program shows that structured, nurse-led follow-up can significantly improve continuity of care. In a 2025 patient assessment conducted after more than 12 months in the program, out of 93 eligible patients, 59 completed the phone-based survey. The results were striking: 81% passed the assessment, demonstrating strong knowledge of symptom recognition, disease management, and appropriate responses to complications highlighting the role of sustained follow-up in reducing treatment interruptions and preventable complications.

Launched to respond to these gaps, the Access to Healthcare program is built around a structured, long-term care pathway rather than one-off interventions. The model combines community-based screening, facility-linked treatment, and at least 12 months of nurse-led follow-up and coaching, an approach designed to ensure that patients not only start treatment but are supported to stay in care over time.

Commenting on the milestone, Hale Asikoglu, Head of Sustainable Development for Generations, IMETA at Boehringer Ingelheim, said the program reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening healthcare systems and expanding access to care.

“Kenya represents both an urgent need and a powerful opportunity to rethink how healthcare systems respond to chronic disease. Through Access to Healthcare, we are expanding access to treatment and helping build a sustainable, patient-centred model that strengthens health systems and closes long-standing gaps in continuity of care. This work is a core part of our Sustainable Development for Generations strategy and our ambition to expand access to healthcare for 50 million people by 2030, starting with communities that have historically been left behind.”

Zuri Health, the digital health and community outreach partner supporting the program’s screening and follow-up efforts, works with local communities to bring services closer to patients through mobile and pop-up clinics. Commenting on the impact of the integrated care model, Dr. Anthony Nduati, Product Manager – Chronic Disease Management Program at Zuri Health, said the approach has helped close the gap between diagnosis and sustained treatment.

“What we see in many communities is that people may get diagnosed, but they fall out of care very quickly. By linking screening, referral, and follow-up into one continuous pathway, we are seeing more patients stay in care and better understand how to manage their condition over time. The numbers we are seeing today reflect not just reach, but continuity.”

Beyond direct patient care, the program works closely with healthcare facilities, clinicians, and supply partners to strengthen referral pathways and integrate community outreach with existing health services. To date, over 50 healthcare centres have signed formal partnerships, and more than 345 physicians are actively referring patients through the program. This approach is designed to ensure that patients identified in the community are not treated in isolation but are connected into sustainable local healthcare ecosystems capable of supporting long-term NCD management.

Looking ahead, the next phase of the program will focus on deepening impact rather than only expanding footprint, strengthening follow-up quality, improving retention in care, and refining how community-based models can better integrate with Kenya’s broader health system to support earlier diagnosis and more consistent long-term treatment.

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