President William Samoei Ruto during the assenting of the Universal Health Coverage Bills. photo courtesy|PCS

Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto on Friday, during the Mashujaa day celebrations at Kericho Green Stadium noted that the government has instituted a paradigm shift to preventive and promotive health rather than curative. An approach which the state says is economically sustainable pointing out that for every KSh1 invested in community health, KSh9.40 are realised in economic and social gains.
The Health sector in the country over the years has faced various challenges such as limited access to healthcare services in rural areas, insufficient healthcare funding, and disparities in healthcare quality between urban and rural regions. However, the government had been implementing various initiatives to address these challenges, including efforts to enhance primary healthcare, increase health insurance coverage, and invest in digital health solutions.

The President on Friday laid out the various plans stipulated to enhance the provision of health services in the country.This includes; Enhanced delivery of primary healthcare services at the community level through the use of Community Health Promoters(CHP).
The work of the promoters will include basic preventive and promotive health, health education, basic first aid for the treatment of minor injuries and ailments at the household level, and referral for facility-based healthcare.
Each community health promoter is allocated 100 homes within their neighbourhoods countrywide.

The National Government is working closely with the county governments to strengthen the delivery of community health services through payment of stipends for 100,000 Community Health Promoters, on a matching basis of 50:50. The national government has allocated Sh3 billion annually for payment of the stipends.
100,000 Community Health Promoter will also be provided with kits – which contain basic equipment for household health screening, medicines, and supplies used for service provision at the household level.

The shift from curative to preventive healthcare will further be strengthened by the promotive services provided by community health promoters at the household units, and the integration of preventive services at the primary health care levels.
These services will include screening for hypertension, diabetes, and eye conditions; offering the necessary health education on water and sanitation, nutrition, and providing community rehabilitation services, among others. These services will be provided through multidisciplinary teams that will be established at the level of the Primary Care networks.

To strengthen the legal basis for health financing, health service provision and achievement of UHC, four new health laws have been enacted. These are: • Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 • Primary Health Care Act, Facility Improvement Financing Act, 2023 and • Digital Health Act, 2023

Health insurance coverage in Kenya is generally low at 26 per cent, with those at the bottom of the economic pyramid having the least coverage of less than five per cent. Many Kenyans incur catastrophic expenditures from out-of-pocket healthcare payments, while many more do not seek care when they fall ill, because they simply cannot afford it. Over the last decade, several measures have been put in place to enhance the capacity of the National Hospital Insurance Fund to effectively deliver on its mandate.
The government also proposed a paradigm shift in the provision of social health insurance, in the new Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, which provides for the formation of a Social Health Authority which will repeal the current National Health Insurance Fund Act, 1998.
A per-household payment system will be implemented where a flat rate applies to everyone, regardless of their income.
The Social Health Insurance Fund also signifies a shift to increased use of domestic resources for health financing and a sustainable approach, especially at a time when resources from donors and development partners are dwindling.
The Kenya Kwanza Manifesto identifies digitisation as a pillar for the health sector to achieve Universal Health Coverage. Accordingly, the Digital Health Act provides the legal basis for the development of a comprehensive and integrated health information system. These systems will enable the visibility of health processes and seamless sharing and portability of information that will enhance health service delivery and improve the efficient use of resources.

The enactment and implementation of the Act and the digitisation agenda will deliver on the promise to ‘integrate ICT to enhance telemedicine and health management information systems’.

Apart from the four laws, the Ministry of Health has put in place various policies and strategies to actualise strengthening of local manufacturing of health products and technologies, to have at least 50 per cent of medicines on the Kenya Essential Medical List produced locally, ensuring procurement mechanisms guarantee value for money and provide the advantage of economies of scale.
Through this ,the Kenya Kwanza government aims to build a healthcare sector that is a shining example to the world, with healthcare workers in the right numbers, who are motivated, well-supported, and inspired to deliver their best.