Kenya’s Taifa Care scheme gains momentum through strategic investments and partnerships

KENYA—Kenya has made significant strides toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through its Taifa Care health scheme, supported by substantial investments in healthcare workers and strategic collaborations with the private sector.

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hon. Aden Duale highlighted these efforts during a recent media briefing, emphasizing the government’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare for all Kenyans.

Investing in the Health Workforce

To ensure a sustainable health workforce, the Ministry of Health has allocated approximately KES 15.35 billion (US$110 million) toward various critical areas.

 This includes KES 6.2 billion (US$44.5 million) for contract health workers under UHC, KES 1.75 billion (US$12.5 million) to clear arrears and honor Return to Work Agreements (RTWF), KES 4.2 billion (US$30 million) to deploy new interns such as doctors, pharmacists, and clinical officers, and KES 3.2 billion (US$ 23 million) for training and stipends of Community Health Promoters.

CS Duale stated, “This is a government that acts, not just talks. We are investing in the people who deliver care.”

Expanding Healthcare Services and Partnerships

In addition to workforce investments, the government has set aside KES 13 billion (US$93 million) for Primary Healthcare and KES 8 billion (US$57 million) for Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Care services.

To broaden access, partnerships with private institutions like Aga Khan University Hospital and The Nairobi Hospital now enable Kenyans to access oncology and renal services—including kidney transplants—at Social Health Authority (SHA) tariff rates with no out-of-pocket expenses.

Moreover, a partnership with Roche Pharmaceuticals has successfully reduced the cost of the breast cancer drug Herceptin from KES 120,000 (US$860) to KES 40,000 (US$290), making life-saving medication more affordable.

 “These partnerships demonstrate our seriousness in lowering healthcare costs and enhancing access,” CS Duale noted.

Growing Enrollment and Service Uptake

Kenya’s Taifa Care scheme has surpassed 23.6 million enrollees, marking a major milestone in the country’s UHC journey.

As of the briefing, over 28,000 new registrations were recorded on the same day, bringing the total to 23,674,672 Kenyans enrolled.

The Social Health Authority has conducted means testing for 5.48 million people to ensure that contributions are fair and based on income levels.

Currently, SHA collaborates with 9,365 healthcare facilities across the country, including 5,219 public, 3,650 private, and 496 faith-based institutions.

Service uptake is already transforming lives: 3.6 million Kenyans have accessed free primary care through the Primary Healthcare Fund, while 2.1 million have received specialized services via the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

SHIF has supported 400,000 dialysis sessions, nearly 20,000 imaging services, over 17,000 cancer treatments, 360,000 normal deliveries, and more than 116,000 cesarean sections.

“These figures represent lives saved, mothers supported, and dignity restored in healthcare,” said CS Duale.

Digitization Enhances Efficiency and Transparency

The Ministry is also spearheading a digital transformation led by the Digital Health Agency to improve efficiency, reduce fraud, and enhance service delivery.

The Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System is now operational in 17 counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Nandi, and Garissa, with plans to expand to others such as Homabay, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Lamu.

This digital rollout has enabled the closure of over 728 ghost or unlicensed facilities and the downgrading of 301 non-compliant ones.

The Afya Yangu platform now allows patient data to be portable across facilities, improving continuity of care.

Additionally, more than 3 million fake identities previously listed under the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) have been removed.

Regulatory bodies, such as the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), are fully integrated to ensure that all health workers and facilities meet licensing standards.

 CS Duale affirmed, “We are ensuring that every health facility and health worker is traceable, compliant, and accountable.”

Furthermore, a track-and-trace medicine system is being implemented to prevent the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit drugs and reduce the diversion of publicly funded medical supplies.

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