By Shadrack Nyakoe
In a bid to enhance healthcare access and quality across Kenya, the government is set to map out health facilities nationwide in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and the Kenya Health Professions Oversight Authority (KHPOA).
Health Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa announced that this initiative aims to ensure health facilities are well-staffed with qualified professionals and can deliver high-quality services to Kenyans.
“This is an initiative to ensure that we map out all our health facilities across the country and identify where specific interventions are needed and offer the necessary support,” Barasa stated.
As part of the Social Health Authority (SHA) program, Barasa also revealed that by December, primary healthcare facilities will be stocked with essential medications to make quality medicines affordable and accessible to patients. SHA, a health insurance initiative, has already registered over 13 million Kenyans, a milestone Barasa attributes partly to the media’s role in raising awareness of SHA’s benefits.
Read also:- Patient Access Survey Reveals Major Barriers in SHA Rollout Across Kenya
SHA Head of Benefits Design, Samson Kuhora, explained that SHA uses Proxy Means Testing (PMT) to set premiums based on household income levels.
This approach calculates a 2.75% premium based on estimated income, allowing SHA to implement an income-adjusted model where wealthier households contribute more.
Kuhora added that the SHA platform also allows households to appeal their assigned contributions if they believe there is an error in the calculation.
Recognizing the irregular incomes of seasonal workers like farmers, SHA has engaged cooperatives to help pay premiums on their behalf, recouping costs gradually from sales.
Barasa emphasized that the government is engaging with support groups for patients with chronic illnesses, such as those needing dialysis and cancer treatments, to gather insights and develop interventions that ensure SHA’s success.