The Government has stepped up its efforts of working towards the actualization of Universal Health Coverage by the year 2030, Health Cabinet Secretary Nakhumicha S. Wafula has said
The CS said plans are complete ahead of mass registration of Kenyans to the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheduled for commencement from 1st July 2024.
According to Nakhumicha, the move seeks to ensure that people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services they require, of sufficient quality to be effective, while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose them to financial hardship.
“The Government of Kenya has prioritized healthcare delivery as one of the core pillars of its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” she said at a Press Conference at Afya House
In the Plan, the minister says a number of commitments were identified towards the delivery of UHC under four pillars namely; Health Commodity Security, Integrated Health Information Management System, Human Resources for Health and Health financing.
“The SHI Act and Regulations envisage fresh registration of all Kenyans and persons resident in Kenya. In preparation for the rollout of the Social Health Insurance and its benefits, I hereby announce that registration shall commence from 1st July 2024,” she said
Flanked by the acting Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, her Medical Services counterpart Harry Kimtai among other key Ministry stakeholders, the CS outlined steps which form an integral part of the government’s commitment towards accelerating the attainment of provision of inclusive, effective and accessible health care to all.
Through BETA she affirmed all people will have access to quality health services when and where they need them without monetary struggle.
“These commitments are in line with the Constitution of Kenya which recognizes that every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes right to healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare. The Constitution also recognizes every person’s right to access emergency medical treatment,” noted the CS
Nakhumicha also affirmed that Article 56 of the Constitution obligates the State to take affirmative action programmes designed to ensure that minorities and marginalized groups have reasonable access to healthcare services.
Friday’s announcement came hours after President William Ruto on Thursday at Statehouse, Nairobi met health officials led by the CS over the planned rollout of the UHC which is one of the key programmes in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Universal Health Coverage is a key promise in our manifesto. The programme aims at ensuring that all Kenyans access free quality health services, including for critical illnesses such as cancer. The government has set up three funds to meet the cost of Universal Health Coverage. These are the Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund and Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.” Said the Head of State
