By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Dr. Deborah M. Barasa, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, formally concluded the 22nd Health Sector Intergovernmental Consultative Forum, which took place at the Kenya School of Government.
As stated by the Ministry of Health, the forum, titled “Accelerating Health Sector Reforms towards Attaining Universal Health Coverage,” convened national and county health stakeholders to coordinate strategies aimed at promoting Kenya’s objectives for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Dr. Barasa reiterated Kenya’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030 through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
She emphasized the significance of cooperation between national and county governments in the provision of health services, pointing out legislative progress such as the Social Health Insurance Act and the Primary Health Care Act as crucial elements for healthcare reform.
“The forum reviewed progress in Universal Health Coverage implementation, focusing on preventive healthcare, digital health solutions, and addressing challenges such as resource mobilization and health workforce constraints,” stated the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health further noted that Dr. Barasa called for strengthened partnerships, innovative strategies, and effective monitoring of forum resolutions to ensure consistent progress.
The Cabinet Secretary also led the evaluation of the Ministry of Health’s 2023/24 Performance Contract, alongside Hon. Eliud Owalo, who oversees government performance and delivery management.
The review focused on key components, including parameters, programs, expected outputs, performance indicators, and targets, to assess the Ministry’s progress and ensure alignment with its commitments.