Church-based organizations are active in health care delivery in many parts of the world and particularly in Africa. These church health systems are rooted in communities and are influential institutions and potentially a huge force for transformation.

It is estimated that up to 40% of health services in the rural areas of most African countries are provided by church health facilities. This contribution is critical for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health. In addition, by their nature, churches and church institutions have the poor and under-served as their primary target. For these systems, quality pharmaceutical services are vital. EPN therefore seeks to work with these church systems to ensure that their pharmaceutical services are efficient and effective and guarantee availability of affordable quality medicines to all who need them.

Source: Chand S, Patterson J. Faith-based models for improving maternal and newborn health. Baltimore, MD: The ACCESS Program, 2007.

The work of EPN is not just aimed at having quality pharmaceutical services provided by church institutions but working towards services that allow no discrimination and guarantee equal access to all. Our work is also aimed at encouraging providers to follow the example of Christ by being empathetic and sympathetic so that the patient feels that they are valued and cared for as an individual. 

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Vision

A valued global partner for just compassionate quality pharmaceutical services for all.

Mission

To support churches and church health systems provide just and compassionate quality pharmaceutical services.

Our values

• Integrity
  All our dealings and relationships are based on a high sense of integrity. 
  Proverbs 16:13: Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.
• Compassion
  We are concerned about the needs of others and would like to imitate Christ by taking action to address these needs.
  Mark 6:34: When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
• Respect for others
  We treat each other with respect bearing in mind the bible teaching to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
  Philippians 2:3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
• Conscientiousness
  We aim at doing everything we have to do to the best of our ability and in such a way that it achieves the desired results. 
  Ecclesiastes 2:24: A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.
• Continuous learning
  We use every opportunity to better ourselves through inquiry and learning.
  Proverbs 1:5: Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.
• Professionalism
  We maintain a high level of professionalism in all that we do.
  Romans 15:14: I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.
• Fairness
  Justice and a sense of fairness underpin the choices we make as we go about our work.
  Leviticus 19:15: Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly.