By Dorothy Musyoka
The Ministry of Health, led by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa, today presented a comprehensive report to the Council of Governors (CoG) detailing the services provided by the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The meeting, chaired by Governor Muthomi Njuki, who serves as the Chair of the CoG Health Committee, focused on advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Kenya.
According to the ministry the report highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to standardize healthcare tariffs and introduce new benefits packages under the SHA, aimed at making healthcare more affordable and comprehensive for all Kenyans.
These reforms are designed to harmonize healthcare costs nationwide and expand access to essential services, aligning with the government’s commitment to achieving UHC.
“The report outlined new standardized tariffs and benefits packages under the SHA, aimed at making healthcare more affordable and comprehensive for all Kenyans,” stated MOH.
Dr. Barasa emphasized the importance of collaboration between national and county governments to ensure the successful implementation of these new measures.
Health Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Barasa had earlier pledged to strengthen cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors (CoG) to improve health service delivery.
She emphasized her commitment to fostering close, meaningful consultations with the CoG to ensure the smooth implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretaries Mary Muthoni (Public Health) and Harry Kimtai (Medical Services), along with several governors from across the country.
The discussions covered a range of topics, including the harmonization of healthcare costs, the expansion of access to essential health services, and the need for robust systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of these reforms.
The introduction of the SHA’s standardized tariffs and benefits packages is seen as a significant step forward in the journey toward UHC in Kenya.
This collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors underscores the government’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for all citizens and achieving UHC as envisioned in Kenya’s development blueprint.