Kenya’s efforts to get rid of counterfeit drugs out of the local
market received a major boost after the countries third largest mobile
service provider introduced ‘Mpedigree’; an SMS based system designed to
identify fake drugs. Orange Kenya intents to run an aggressive SMS
based campaign in partnership with the Medical services Ministry through
Mpedigree in Kenya and Cameroon where alarming estimates of 30 percent
drugs are counterfeit. Counterfeit drugs in most African countries have
proved to be a major thorn in their efforts to combat deadly ailments
such as HIV, TB and Malaria; only recently, Kenya woke to some shocking
news indicating presence of both HIV and Malaria counterfeit drugs in
the country. Mpedigree is expected to help identify and confiscate fake
drugs which will save lives and continue the government’s plans to
contain diseases such as TB and Malaria.
Although the introduction of Mpedigree into
Orange’s operations in the continent was announced sometimes earlier
this year, it comes 2 months after the Kenyan government announced its
version of e-health strategy. Orange Kenya is keen to utilize its 21Mbps
fast 3G internet connection platform alongside other partners in
establishing potential ICT solutions that will be beneficial to its
customers; in this case, Mpedigree will enhance the government’s efforts
in rendering quality medical care as stipulated in the new
constitution. In addition, Orange has partnered with known industry
players such as Qualcomm in a project named ‘wireless reach’ engaged in
the automation of the procurement of anti-retroviral drugs at public
clinics.
