The government is actively developing mechanisms to integrate three key result areas into its policies: implementing universal health coverage, supporting a skilled and motivated healthcare workforce, and advancing the digitisation of the healthcare system.
Principal Secretary of Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of Dr. Mercy Mwangangi as the new Social Health Authority (SHA) CEO.
Dr Oluga said the government’s objective is to realign the healthcare system, the processes, and the programmes for responsiveness, reliability, and sustainability of healthcare to enhance the pooling of resources and also the pooling of risks.
“The mandate, therefore, of SHA is to provide a framework for improved health outcomes and financial protection in line with the right to health as a constitutional imperative in Article 43 under the Bill of Rights and Universal Health Coverage and also a global agenda under the Sustainable Development Goals.” Dr Oluga said
Moreover, Dr. Oluga said these three key result areas are very important as far as the UHC implementation is concerned, and particularly four key pillars: health care financing, sustainable health care financing, health workforce, and commodity security.
The new SHA CEO, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, said that as the country goes into transformation, we do not need to invest in a Social Health Authority that leaves Kenyans behind.
“The government has invested in the last eight months in putting together this institution that is a social contract between Kenyans and the government; we then are at a point where we need to strengthen this institution and ensure that it does not leave any Kenyan behind.” Dr. Mwangangi emphasised.
On matters of the SHA Lipa Pole Pole programme that was launched by President Ruto during the 62nd Madaraka Day celebrations in Homa Bay County, the CEO explained that the programme, which is accessible through USSD code *147#, would help the vulnerable in meeting their SHA contributions target.
Others who attended the inauguration were Robert Ingasira, Director of Finance and Funds Management SHA; Tracy John, Ag. Director of Benefits and Claims Management SHA; and Ibrahim Alio, Director of Corporate Services SHA.
By Charity Cherono and Vivian Muli
