Partnering for Better Health: First Steps in Strengthening Pharmaceutical Education in East Africa
An update on action medeor’s IMPACT project in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania
‘Situation Room’ in which the data of the healthcare facility is visualized. ©action medeor
For over a decade, the medical aid organization action medeor and Sartorius have joined forces to strengthen healthcare around the world — from long-term development work to rapid disaster relief. Their shared ambition: making healthcare more accessible where it’s needed most.
This article is posted on Sartorius Blog.
In rural areas across Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, basic healthcare is often a challenge and not able to meet its population’s needs. Clinics and hospitals face shortages of trained personnel, medicines, and resources, putting especially vulnerable groups at risk. The lack of pharmaceutical expertise can lead to unsafe treatments and interruptions in care, making healthcare gaps a daily struggle.
To address these issues, Sartorius supported the launch of the IMPACT project last year. This initiative aims to boost pharmaceutical care in rural East Africa through training, networking, and improvements in local medical institutions. These efforts are already showing positive results in the region’s healthcare landscape.
Getting Started: Identifying Needs and Actions
Before kicking off the training, the project team conducted a thorough assessment of over 50 healthcare facilities across Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. They identified critical issues, such as inadequate standards for medicine storage and labeling, insufficient advisory skills among healthcare staff, and unreliable procurement and dispensing processes.
During the baseline assessment, it was noted that most of the facilities we visited were not sensitized on the needs of older persons as some did not have waiting bays that had seats and also confidentiality was not part of medicine dispensing.
Dr. Misiani Ayub W., Head of Health Products and Technologies Unit of Kakamega County, Kenya
To address these challenges, the project team developed digital and practical training modules on safe storage, medication use, and patient-centered communication. In 2024, nine Master Trainers, pharmacists from the regions, were trained to spread the knowledge across the local healthcare institutions.
Sharing Best Practices Across Borders: South-South Exchange
A special highlight of the project so far: the South-South exchange in Rwanda in June 2025, where the Master Trainers and partner organizations met to discuss reliable organization of primary care in remote regions, digital tools and procedures for inventory tracking or involvement of local authorities.
At the Rambura Health Center in Nyabihu district, participants explored real-life applications such as digital warehousing, real-time data use, drone deliveries, and logistics “situation rooms.”
Participants identified workflow improvements and developed proposals for structural changes at local and national levels. These will feed into tailored action plans with local healthcare teams. Cross-border exchanges are a central element of the project, with more planned for 2026.
Tour of the warehouse at BUFMAR ©action medeor
First Achievements, With More to Come
The IMPACT project is already making strides in improving healthcare across East Africa, with key issues identified, an initial round of trainings accomplished, and first concrete measures being implemented:
In Rwanda, facilities have created separate rooms for patient consulting and have improved communication on dosage and intake.
In Kenya, additional public health stations have joined the project to reach even more people.
In Tanzania, first standardized procedures for storage and labeling have been adopted.
These initial successes are a testament to the effectiveness of the training programs:
During the baseline assessment, it was noted that most of the facilities did not have pharmacy personnel to handle health products […]. The training provided the best opportunity to train the staff on good inventory management practices […] and it was noted through the pre test and post test where there was marked improvement on the scores.
Dr. Olima Lindsay, Master Trainer
By 2026, all 53 institutions will benefit from the training, significantly increasing the number of patients receiving qualified pharmaceutical advice — up to 3,600 per institution. Enhanced digital support will ensure the project’s lasting impact, paving the way for improved healthcare in East Africa.
