CS Duale Updates Parliament on UHC Progress, Emphasizes Quality and Accountability in Health Reforms

𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐚, 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 - Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale today appeared before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health, chaired by Seme MP Hon. James Nyikal, to provide an update on the ongoing rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The session, held in Mombasa County, focused on the progress the Ministry of Health is making in expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Kenyans.

Hon. Duale told the Committee that the Ministry is prioritizing the digitization of health services through the deployment of the Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System, which is now active in 24 counties. Over 13,000 health workers have already been trained on the platform. Developed through the Digital Health Agency (DHA), and implemented in collaboration with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), the system is strengthening regulation and accountability in the health sector. So far, it has enabled the closure of 983 non-compliant health facilities and the downgrading of another 487 — a clear step toward eliminating unsafe practices and improving quality of care.

He noted that the government is recapitalizing the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to ensure a consistent supply of essential medicines and medical commodities to public health facilities nationwide, as part of efforts to stabilize health service delivery.

At the same time, the Ministry is strengthening strategic partnerships with private and faith-based institutions, including The Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, and global pharmaceutical companies like Roche. These collaborations are yielding results, including the significant reduction in the cost of lifesaving treatments — such as the breast cancer drug Herceptin, whose price has dropped from KES 120,000 to KES 40,000.

Hon. Duale also updated the Committee on the ongoing rollout of the new social health insurance model under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023. The SHA has empanelled 9,365 health facilities to date — 5,219 public, 3,650 private, and 496 faith-based — now serving over 6.2 million Kenyans under the Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). He reported that more than 4.3 million Kenyans have accessed free primary care under PHCF, while another 1.9 million have benefited from SHIF-supported services such as dialysis, imaging, cancer care, and maternal health.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to health sector reforms, Hon. Duale emphasized that Kenya Kwanza is building a system that is people-centred, equitable, transparent, and financially sustainable. He warned that the Ministry will continue to crack down on unqualified practitioners and facilities attempting to defraud the SHA, adding that safeguarding patient dignity and public trust remains a non-negotiable priority.