The origins of EPN date back to 1981 when the Christian Medical Commission (CMC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) decided to provide advice and consultation in the area of pharmaceutical services to church health programmes, particularly in Africa. The Commission with support of a steering committee, known as the Pharmaceutical Advisory Group (PAG) came together in Geneva to discuss issues related to pharmaceutical service delivery in Africa. They engaged a pharmaceutical adviser who over subsequent years provided technical assistance in the areas of medicine management and rational use of medicines in the different pharmaceutical programmes run by the churches, thus providing advocacy and strengthening church agencies in pharmaceutical management.

In 1997, the Pharmaceutical Adviser was moved to Nairobi. The group of Church based organizations that were being supported by the adviser agreed to become a Network in a meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe soon thereafter, resulting in the establishment of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network.

EPN was registered as a non government organization in Kenya in 2004. 

Since the network was formed, membership has been open to Christian health associations, faith-based drug supply organizations, church health institutions and other related organizations and individuals. Currently, EPN has over 70 members from 31 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. 

In 2011, EPN celebrates 30 years of strengthening pharmaceutical services in church health systems. During the course of the year 2011, we will take a trip down memory lane and celebrate this anniversary through several publications and events. Click here to find out how you can help us make sure this anniversary does not go by unnoticed.

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