MOMBASA- Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale today appeared before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health to provide a comprehensive update on the government’s ongoing rollout of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The session, held in Mombasa County and chaired by Seme MP Hon. James Nyikal, focused on the strides the Ministry of Health has made in expanding access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Kenyans.
CS Duale emphasized the government’s commitment to modernizing healthcare delivery through digital transformation.
He reported that the Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System — developed by the Digital Health Agency (DHA) in partnership with the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) — is now active in 24 counties. Over 13,000 health workers have been trained to use the platform, which is designed to enhance transparency and regulatory oversight across the sector.
“The digitization of health services is a key pillar in ensuring accountability and quality,” Hon. Duale said. “So far, the system has led to the closure of 983 non-compliant health facilities and the downgrading of 487 others. This is a major step toward eliminating unsafe medical practices.”
The CS also noted that the government is recapitalizing the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to improve the availability of essential medicines and medical commodities across public health facilities. This, he said, is vital to stabilizing health service delivery nationwide.
Strategic partnerships are also playing a significant role in the sector’s transformation.
CS Duale highlighted collaborations with private and faith-based institutions, including The Nairobi Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, and global pharmaceutical firms such as Roche. He cited the dramatic reduction in the cost of breast cancer treatment — particularly the drug Herceptin, whose price has dropped from KES 120,000 to KES 40,000 — as one of the major outcomes of these partnerships.
In his remarks, the CS updated the Committee on the implementation of the new social health insurance model introduced under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023. To date, 9,365 health facilities — including 5,219 public, 3,650 private, and 496 faith-based — have been empanelled under the Social Health Authority.
Through the Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), more than 6.2 million Kenyans are now covered. Hon. Duale noted that over 4.3 million Kenyans have accessed free primary healthcare through PHCF, while SHIF has supported treatment for an additional 1.9 million individuals, including services like dialysis, imaging, maternal care, and cancer treatment.
Reaffirming the Kenya Kwanza administration’s commitment to a reformed healthcare system, the CS said the government is determined to build a people-centred, equitable, and financially sustainable model.
“We are putting an end to impunity in the health sector,” Hon. Duale stated. “We will not tolerate unqualified practitioners or fraudulent facilities. Patient dignity and public trust are non-negotiable.”
The Health Committee commended the Ministry for its efforts and urged continued vigilance to ensure universal access and improved health outcomes across the country.
