Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale today engaged Kenyans through an interactive discussion on Kass FM International on the state of the country’s health sector and the Government’s progress in delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The CS outlined the reforms being implemented to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, accountable and responsive to the needs of Kenyans, with a strong focus on strengthening the health system from primary to specialised care.
At the centre of these reforms is the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has so far registered more than 32 million Kenyans, representing about 68 percent of the population.
According to Duale, Mombasa County currently leads in SHA registration, demonstrating the growing uptake of the new health financing framework and the Government’s commitment to ensuring that no Kenyan is left behind.
Further, Duale said the Government is also strengthening the health workforce revealing that during the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), an agreement was reached on the transition of UHC health workers to Permanent and Pensionable terms, supported by a Sh8.6 billion Government allocation.
“The move will enhance job security, improve staff retention and strengthen continuity of healthcare services,” the CS stated.
On medical internship, he announced that the Government has deployed more than 13,000 interns and disbursed over Sh19 billion towards internship programmes.
“This investment is supporting the training, professional development and transition of young health professionals into the workforce,” he added.
Similarly, Duale reported that the Government has further undertaken reforms at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to strengthen the procurement and distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies.
These reforms, he noted, have raised the national commodity fill rate to 91 percent, improving the reliability of supplies reaching health facilities and bringing essential commodities closer to the last mile.
Digitization is equally transforming the delivery and management of healthcare and to this regard, the CS highlighted that through Practice 360 and other digital health systems, the Ministry is strengthening accountability, transparency, data visibility and oversight across the health sector while improving the quality and safety of care.
On the other hand, he pointed out that the National Equipment Service Programme (NESP) continues to expand access to specialised healthcare by equipping health facilities with modern medical equipment and advanced diagnostic and treatment capacity.
“The programme is helping bring specialised services closer to communities and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to access care,” explained the CS.
Duale additionally mentioned that emergency healthcare is also receiving renewed attention through the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre and the 922-emergency lifeline, stressing that the system is strengthening emergency response, coordination and referrals to ensure that Kenyans receive timely and coordinated care when every minute counts.
At the primary healthcare level, the CS disclosed that more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) are deployed across the country.
“As frontline health workers, CHPs are bringing preventive, promotive and basic healthcare services closer to households while strengthening early identification, referral, and continuity of care at community level,” he said, adding that the Government has also extended their health insurance coverage under SHA.
The Ministry, Duale continued, has rolled out the Green Label Charter across health facilities to clearly identify government-funded primary healthcare services that are provided free of charge.
The initiative, he echoed, strengthens transparency and accountability, eliminates hidden costs and helps Kenyans understand the services they are entitled to receive without payment.
“The Government is also strengthening strategic partnerships to make medicines and healthcare more affordable. Engagements with partners, including Pfizer, are supporting efforts to reduce medicine prices and improve access to essential treatments for Kenyans,” Duale assured.
On maternal and newborn health, the CS affirmed that plans are underway to construct dedicated mother-and-child health facilities to complement Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) initiative. The investment will strengthen maternal, newborn and child health services and support the Government’s efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
Likewise, he revealed that the Government is also expanding the fight against cancer by strengthening regional cancer centres and scaling up cancer screening for early detection and diagnosis.
“The long-term goal is to progressively establish cancer treatment capacity in every county over the next 10 years, ensuring that patients can access quality cancer services closer to home,” the CS maintained.
Ultimately, Duale emphasised that these reforms are part of a broader transformation of Kenya’s health system, from financing and workforce development to medicines, digital health, emergency response, primary healthcare, and specialised services.
He reaffirmed that the Government remains committed to ensuring that UHC moves beyond policy to become a practical reality, where every Kenyan can access quality, affordable and timely healthcare without suffering financial hardships.
By Michael Omondi
