GC Labs has launched a training program designed to strengthen the health policy capabilities of senior Kenyan health officials.
The medical foundation said it held an opening ceremony on Sept. 7 for the “Health Promotion Capacity-Building Program for Mid- to Senior-Level Kenyan Health Officials,” conducted as part of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Global Training Program.
Seventeen officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Health and local governments are taking part in the first-year program. During the two-week training, participants will examine Korea’s health promotion policies and discuss how Korean practices could be adapted to Kenya’s healthcare environment.
The first week included visits to GC Labs, Dong-gu District Office in the integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju Special Metropolitan City, GC Biopharma’s Hwasun plant and the National Cancer Center.
At the district office, the participants explored Korea’s community-based health promotion initiatives, including healthy city programs and dementia care services. At GC Biopharma’s Hwasun plant, they learned about vaccine production and the role of the private sector in infectious disease prevention.
The National Cancer Center introduced Korea’s national cancer control policies and its use of integrated healthcare data. Participants also discussed Korea’s healthcare financing system, cooperation between central and local health authorities, and responses to public health crises.
The second week will include visits to the Korea Health Promotion and Development Institute, Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital and GC Labs’ healthcare service arm GC Green Cross i-Med.
The three-year program, running from 2026 to 2028, aims to move beyond knowledge sharing toward developing practical action plans tailored to Kenya. Future stages will cover health service development, disease prevention programs, health promotion education and strategies for sustainable implementation.
Lee Sang-gon, CEO of GC Labs, said the program would provide an opportunity to explore how Korea’s healthcare experience could be adapted to Kenya’s local needs and circumstances.
