KENYA —Kenya Airways (KQ) has received the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Pharma certification from the International Aviation Travel Authority (IATA), marking a significant achievement for the airline, which has been struggling with losses for the past ten years.
The certification comes as a result of the airline’s increased focus on its cargo business, which saw a 3.5% increase in FY2022, with 65,955 tonnes of cargo hauled.
The CEIV pharma certification is of great significance to Kenya Airways, as it indicates that the airline has modernized its facilities to handle high-value, time-sensitive, and temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals with speed and consistency, thus reducing the risk of losing US$35 billion annually in the biopharma industry, according to IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science.
Dick Murianki, Director of Cargo, Kenya Airways said, “Pharmaceutical shipments are extremely challenging and necessitate maximum dependability from airlines.
“It is critical to maintain the required temperature so that medication can be used as planned after shipping. Being one of the first African airlines to receive IATA’s international certificate is the result of the work we’ve done over the last few years to strengthen our product.”
Furthermore, the certification will have a direct impact on the healthcare system in the region, improving access to life-saving medications and medical supplies.
Kenya’s pharmaceutical industry has been growing, with the government’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment yielding positive results.
With the increased demand for high-quality, temperature-controlled pharmaceutical transport, the certification of Kenya Airways will provide a crucial link in the supply chain, ensuring that patients have access to the medications they need.
Kenya Airways is now one of the few airlines in Africa to have received this certification, following Ethiopian Airlines, which received its certification in December 2021.
Other airlines that compete with KQ in cargo carriage are Air France/KLM, Lufthansa Cargo, Emirate Sky cargo, Cargolux, MartinAir and Saudia Airlines.
The significance of the CEIV pharma certification for Kenya Airways goes beyond ensuring the safe and timely transportation of pharmaceutical products.
The certification puts Kenya Airways in a prime position to be a leading exporter of domestic pharma manufacturing products, attracting multinational pharma companies that are increasingly setting up manufacturing units in Kenya.
The CEIV pharma certification will also support the Kenyan government’s goal of expanding the pharmaceutical industry, creating jobs, and driving economic growth.
Moderna is set to establish a US$500 million mRNA vaccine facility in Nairobi, and Kenya recently partnered with Univercells to establish a biotechnology center in Nairobi, bolstering Kenya’s pharma export capacity and providing accessible and affordable healthcare to all Kenyans.
The air cargo industry has been calling for higher standards when transporting temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, with air transport being deemed the most potentially risky, accounting for 80% of all reported temperature excursions.
IATA has developed standards since 2014 that address the growing expectation for compliance, standardization, accountability, and transparency across the supply chain to ensure regulatory compliance and quality services.
The CEIV pharma certification will be instrumental in supporting these standards and the Kenyan government’s goal of expanding the pharmaceutical industry.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook.
