This archive report was first published on 7 July 2021.
On July 7, 2021, Kenya's Ministry of Health marked a significant milestone in the country's healthcare sector by launching the first-ever Kenya Emergency Medical Care Program.
According to Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Rashid Aman, the program is designed to provide quality emergency care and save lives by ensuring seamless coordination from the time of an emergency to a health facility.
The National Steering Committee in Emergency Medical Care Policy, which was also inaugurated, will serve for a period of three years and be tasked with implementing the operationalization of the policy.
"This is a great milestone towards providing quality health care and ensuring seamless coordination from the time of an emergency to a health facility will save lives," Dr. Aman said.
The policy, which spans from 2020 to 2030, has mapped the resources required and provided approaches for sustainable financing to ensure universal emergency care coverage in Kenya.
Head of Public Health Francis Kuria, who is also the chair of the committee, emphasized the need to create a needs-based emergency care for all as part of universal health coverage.
"The steering committee will draw a roadmap that will be rolled out for the national and county governments so that every Kenyan accesses medical care when and if needed, so that we don't have anyone dying due to lack of access to emergency care," Kuria said.
