By Dorothy Musyoka
Kenya is taking a significant step toward enhancing its healthcare system through a strategic collaboration with Jordan.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Mr. Harry Kimtai, hosted H.E. Firas Khouri, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to discuss potential areas of partnership in healthcare delivery, medical technology, and specialized treatment.
Jordan, renowned for its successful Universal Health Coverage (UHC) implementation and status as a global medical tourism hub, offers valuable insights that Kenya hopes to leverage.
The discussions focused on telemedicine, advanced cancer treatment technologies, and capacity building, with both nations expressing a commitment to knowledge exchange and healthcare innovation.
“With Jordan having fully implemented Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and established itself as a hub for medical tourism, Kenya is looking to learn from its success, particularly in telemedicine and advanced cancer treatment technologies,” stated Kimtai.
Every year, over 50,000 Kenyans travel abroad for specialized medical treatment, incurring significant costs.
This partnership aims to reduce that number by enhancing Kenya’s local healthcare capabilities, ensuring that more citizens can receive world-class treatment at home.
As part of the collaboration, Kenya and Jordan plan to sign Memorandums of Understanding to facilitate structured cooperation in healthcare system.
“The partnership is expected to lead to the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system and addressing the growing challenge of over 50,000 Kenyans seeking medical treatment abroad annually,” added Kimtai.
The partnership aligns with Kenya’s vision for an improved healthcare system under Taifa Care, reinforcing the government’s commitment to expanding access to specialized, high-quality, and affordable medical services.