Duale Defends Expanded Maternal and Cancer Care Benefits Before Senate Committee
Nairobi, – Cabinet Secretary for Health Hon. Aden Duale appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation to table and defend the Tariffs for Healthcare Services (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 78 of 2026), which seek to strengthen financial protection for households through expanded maternal and cancer care benefits under the Social Health Insurance framework.
Appearing before the Committee chaired by Tharaka Nithi Senator Hon. Mwenda Gataya, the Cabinet Secretary outlined key reforms aimed at reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs and improving access to essential health services.
A major provision of the proposed amendments is the introduction of a comprehensive Maternity, Neonatal and Child Health Services package under the Primary Healthcare Fund. The package guarantees access to antenatal care, delivery services, Caesarean sections, newborn care, immunization, nutritional support and postnatal services for all registered beneficiaries, including those unable to meet their SHIF contributions.
Under the proposed package, normal deliveries will be reimbursed at KES 10,000, while Caesarean sections will be funded at KES 30,000 through government support, ensuring that mothers and newborns receive quality care without financial hardship.
The amendments also enhance support for cancer patients through the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF). Annual support for chronic cancer management will increase from KES 150,000 to KES 400,000 per patient. When combined with existing SHIF benefits, eligible patients will be able to access up to KES 800,000 annually for cancer treatment.
In addition, the enhanced oncology package covers consultations, chemotherapy administration, laboratory tests, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, PET scans, CT imaging and other specialized interventions, providing comprehensive support throughout the cancer treatment journey.
The Cabinet Secretary informed the Committee that more than 43,661 patients have already benefited from the enhanced oncology package, with over 3,000 successfully completing treatment under the expanded coverage.
Hon. Duale noted that the amendments were developed through extensive public participation involving healthcare professionals, county governments, civil society organizations, patient advocacy groups and members of the public. The reforms are further informed by health technology assessments, actuarial reviews and recommendations from the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel.
He emphasized that the proposed changes will advance Universal Health Coverage by reducing catastrophic health expenditures, improving access to safe maternal healthcare and strengthening support for patients requiring long-term cancer treatment.
The Cabinet Secretary also briefed the Committee on broader reforms supporting healthcare delivery. He noted that the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has attained a 92 per cent facility fill rate, improving the availability of essential medicines and health commodities across the country.
He further highlighted progress under the National Equipment Service Programme, which continues to equip county health facilities with modern diagnostic and treatment equipment. The Ministry has also approved 11 In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) centres nationwide, expanding access to specialized reproductive health services.
Additionally, the Social Health Authority (SHA) has settled 84 per cent of submitted claims, strengthening healthcare financing and improving service delivery efficiency across the country.
The proposed amendments form part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to strengthen health financing, expand access to quality healthcare services and accelerate the realization of Universal Health Coverage for all Kenyans.