NAIROBI– Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Monday chaired a high-level strategic meeting at Afya House, bringing together Chief Executive Officers from Kenya’s national teaching and referral hospitals.
The meeting, also attended by senior Ministry of Health officials, focused on reinforcing coordination and enhancing the efficiency of Kenya’s public health system at the referral level.
In a firm call to action, CS Duale reiterated his commitment to uphold patient dignity, quality, and efficiency in service delivery. Central to his address was the enforcement of the Social Health Authority (SHA)’s bed capacity access rule.
The CS directed that all hospitals accurately update their actual bed capacity in records maintained by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) to prevent service disruptions and misallocation of resources.
“We cannot allow a situation where patients sleep on floors or share beds. You are directed to procure additional beds without delay. I will provide the necessary support to ensure that every Kenyan receives care with dignity,” Duale stated.
Hosted Chief Executive Officers of Kenya's National Teaching and Referral Hospitals for a strategic engagement aimed at enhancing coordination and improving service delivery across our national referral system.
I reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to uphold patient dignity,… pic.twitter.com/kPJ7lcW18g
— Hon. Aden Duale, EGH (@HonAdenDuale) July 14, 2025
The CS also emphasized the full implementation of SHA services, directing hospitals to stop co-charging for services that are comprehensively covered under the new health financing framework.
He stressed the need for strict adherence to standard tariffs, accurate documentation, timely claims processing, and efficient resource management to minimize out-of-pocket expenses and ensure sustainability.
On the supply chain front, Hon. Duale addressed concerns around the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), assuring hospital CEOs of ongoing reforms to restore stock availability and secure consistent medical supplies across all facilities.
Digitization emerged as a key pillar in the CS’s reform agenda, with a strong push for the adoption of electronic systems to manage patient records, prescriptions, and overall hospital operations.
“Digitization is essential to improve efficiency, eliminate fraud, and promote transparency across our health system,” he emphasized.
The CS further directed facilities to swiftly address patient complaints received through KMPDC channels, register new services such as transplants or advanced diagnostics for proper classification, and formalize training partnerships through structured Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to uphold academic and clinical standards.
Underscoring the importance of ethical leadership and efficient resource utilization, Duale urged hospital boards and management to work in synergy with the Ministry of Health to tackle legal, operational, and funding challenges.
“We must build strong institutions, enhance service delivery, and shape the future of healthcare for generations to come,” he concluded.
Joining Hon. Duale were Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, and CEOs from key national health agencies including Dr. Waqo Erjesa (KEMSA), Dr. David Kariuki (KMPDC), Dr. Mercy Mwangangi (SHA), and Eng. Anthony Lenaiyara (DHA).
Also in attendance were CEOs from Kenya’s leading national referral hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Mama Ngina Teaching and Referral Hospital (MNTRH), Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH), North-South Inter-Regional Hospital (NSIRH), and Mt. Kenya Regional Hospital (MKRH).
