Rwanda has kick-started the implementation of an agreement with global pharmaceutical firm, Pfizer, to provide all their medicines and vaccines available on a not-for-profit basis.

The agreement entails providing training to health care professionals from the signatory countries around the world.

The agreement was signed between Pfizer and 42 countries, and Rwanda is the first among the group of five countries that first signed the agreement to start the implemention.

Dr. Daniel Ngamije, the Minister of Health, explained that the training is part of the first step of the implementation of the agreement, and that Rwanda has already received its first batch of medicines.

"The training is the first step but we are also looking forward to sharing information with the Pfizer team, about improving the ability to screen different diseases and also improving research as part of our agreement,” he said.

He added that the training is in line with providing health care professionals from different public hospitals the knowledge on how medicines and vaccines provided by Pfizer are administered.

Ngamije said that with Pfizer and other partners, they will continue to mobilise resources, to avail Covid-19 tools including diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines for the entire population eligible for vaccination.

Kodjo Soroh, the Medical Director and Chairman of the Country Medical Council at Pfizer Worldwide Bio-Pharmaceutical Businesses, commended Rwanda for steps made to improve public health. 

"With this accord of a healthier world we are also going to start the engagement of health care professionals on other therapeutic areas, including oncology, and rare diseases, I am very excited to see Rwanda being the first to start the implementation of the agreement”.

He also added, "I believe that at the end of the training you will be well equipped to be able to deliver the right medicine at the right dose for the right patient at the right time”.

The agreement signed in Davos between Pfizer and 42 countries, includes the distribution of medicines that cure Covid-19 or therapeutics, cancer medicines, medicines that cure skin conditions, and other medicines that are manufactured by Pfizer.