Health Ministry and Governors agree on UHC, digital health push

KENYA—The Council of Governors and Kenya’s Ministry of Health have jointly announced a series of resolutions following a high-level consultative meeting between county governors and the Cabinet Secretary for Health.

This meeting was convened to address pressing challenges and chart a collaborative path forward for the country’s health sector.

Key topics discussed included the rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA), the digitalization of health services, the absorption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) staff, the National Equipment Service Program (NESP), and the compensation of Community Health Promoters (CHPs), among others.

Both parties agreed to accelerate the implementation and expansion of the Social Health Authority, which is central to Kenya’s ambitions for Universal Health Coverage.

As of January 2025, over 17.8 million Kenyans have registered with the SHA, reflecting significant progress in health insurance enrollment.

The Ministry of Health and the Digital Health Agency will now review and integrate existing county-level Health Information Systems—including platforms like Afyake—into the national Health Information Exchange portal.

This integration aims to streamline patient records, reduce administrative burdens, and improve coordination among healthcare providers.

Additionally, the SHA is expected to increase funding for the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund to enhance service delivery.

To ensure effective SHA registration and utilisation, more resources will be allocated for training and capacity-building of health facility managers (from level 2 to 5 facilities).

In terms of digital health, the Ministry of Health, together with the Digital Health Agency, is tasked with fast-tracking the digitalization of health facilities across all 47 counties.

This digital transformation is seen as vital for the successful implementation of other projects, including the NESP, which provides essential medical equipment and services such as radiology and ICU care.

To support this, a joint taskforce comprising the Ministries of Health, Energy, and ICT, along with the Council of Governors, will be established to address critical enablers like electricity and internet connectivity in health facilities.

Furthermore, the Digital Health Agency will expedite the distribution of digital devices to remaining public health facilities and share a detailed rollout plan with county governments.

Regarding human resources, the absorption of UHC staff remains a priority. Counties have conducted a headcount of UHC workers to improve accountability and ensure fair employment practices.

The national government has been urged to transfer resources, at the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) approved salary scales, to counties for these workers.

Notably, healthcare unions have called for a budget allocation of KES 4 billion (USD 29.4 million) to facilitate the absorption of these staff into permanent positions.

This is crucial, as many UHC workers were initially hired on temporary contracts during the 2020 pilot and risk losing their jobs if not absorbed, which could undermine primary healthcare delivery.

Moreover, the Ministry of Health has committed to disbursing funds for the salaries of UHC staff directly to counties, aiming to resolve disparities in pay and ensure timely remuneration.

The payment of Community Health Promoters is also being prioritized, recognizing their essential role in grassroots healthcare.

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