Just and compassionate quality pharmaceutical services for ALL

About Us

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The Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) is a Christian, international, non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to medicines and enhancing the quality of pharmaceutical services, particularly in church-based healthcare systems. Our mission is rooted in compassion and justice, and we strive to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, quality medicines and pharmaceutical services.

Our Commitment

EPN commits to improving the quality of pharmaceutical services and ensuring equitable access to medicines for all. By working with church health systems, we promote efficient and effective pharmaceutical Services and access to quality Medicines for All. Our network is particularly strong in regions where church-based health services provide essential healthcare, ensuring that ALL people have access to life-saving medicines and health care.

Our Vision

A united and growing Christian network, in which at least 50% of its members meet pharmaceutical standards to ensure access to resilient quality pharmaceutical services

Our Mission

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

 

Background

Founded in 1981, EPN began as a technical support initiative by the Christian Medical Commission (CMC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC), aimed at strengthening pharmaceutical services within church health programs in Africa.

In 2000, the church health organizations supported came together to form a network, and EPN was officially registered as a non-profit organization. With secretariat based in Nairobi, Kenya, EPN continued to serve as a bridge for promoting the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical services and support to church-based healthcare systems across Africa and beyond.

 

 

Our Network

EPN is a unique network consisting of associations, institutions, and individuals committed to delivering equitable and efficient pharmaceutical services. This global network, with Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya, spans 38 countries, has made significant strides in strengthening health systems and promoting global health goals.

 

The Network At A Glance

149
Members
38
Countries
35
Christian Health Associations (CHAs)
25
Health Systems Strenghening Organisations
19
Church Health Institutions (CHIs)
19
Drug Supply Organizations
51
Individuals

Why church health facilities?

Church-based organizations are active actors in health care delivery in many parts of the world and specifically, in low- and middle income countries (LMICs) which tend to be in the most hard-to-reach places. It is estimated that in many African countries, church health facilities and faith–based pharmaceutical suppliers cater for over 40% of people living in rural areas. Church health institutions tend to bridge the healthcare services gaps left by the government and private sectors.

However, these church health institutions often struggle to recruit, train and retain health workers due to their location and low resource availability. Further, church health facilities tend to be overlooked by governments when allocating financial and medical commodities during national budgeting. This means that they mostly operate with allocations from the Churches and the generated revenue, which is in many cases inadequate. This is exacerbated by the need to tend to healthcare needs of thousands of people sparsely settled, and often accessing only health facility for miles.

The imperative of quality pharmaceutical services

Medicines are the bedrock of effective medical treatments and disease prevention. Ensuring access to quality-assured medicines and promoting their rational use remains a persistent global need. EPN is dedicated to confronting this challenge head-on. We work hand-in-hand with church health systems to ensure their pharmaceutical services are not only efficient and effective but also fully equipped to guarantee the availability of affordable, high-quality medicines to everyone in need. Our efforts are crucial in combating substandard and falsified medicines, a threat that undermines public health and erodes trust in healthcare systems.

What We Believe In

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.

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