Government Pushes For Accelerated Rollout of UHC In Kenya

By Heizel Gathoni

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) continues to be a cornerstone of Kenya’s national policy, with President William Ruto reaffirming his dedication to this initiative.

In efforts to advance this critical agenda, the Senior Advisor from the Council of Economic Advisors at State House, Hon. Moses Kuria, convened a strategic meeting with the Ministry of Health leadership to chart the way forward for the UHC rollout.

According to the Ministry of Health (MOH) the high-level meeting, attended by Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa, Medical Services Principal Secretary Mr. Harry Kimtai, Chief Executive Officers of the Council of Governors Mary Mwiti, and the leadership from the State House Advisory (SHA) team, focused on addressing key areas critical to the successful implementation of the UHC Programme.

“The discussion centered on the rollout of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Programme, focusing on key areas that must be addressed to ensure a successful launch,” stated the Ministry of Health.

Among the primary strategies discussed was the immediate need to conduct a comprehensive end-to-end pilot project in a selected county within the next 14 days.

“One of the main strategies discussed was conducting a comprehensive end-to-end pilot in a selected county within the next 14 days to ensure readiness for a broader implementation,” MOH added.

The pilot program is expected to address various operational challenges and help streamline processes to guarantee that the UHC initiative can be effectively expanded to cover more regions across the country.

This preparatory phase is essential for ensuring that the UHC system can deliver comprehensive and accessible healthcare services to all Kenyans as envisioned by the national government.

With these preparations underway, the administration remains focused on overcoming hurdles and setting a solid foundation for the broader implementation of Universal Health Coverage, marking a significant milestone in Kenya’s healthcare advancement.