This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Kenya is gearing up to host the 2019 Medic East Africa conference, a three-day event that will focus on the provision of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the region. The conference, organized by Informa Markets, is scheduled to take place from Tuesday to Thursday next week.
Expected to attract over 4,000 participants from 25 countries, the conference will bring together East Africa's healthcare and medical laboratory industry players. The event aims to create an opportunity for industry players in the healthcare sector to discuss the latest trends in UHC.
According to Informa Markets Exhibition Director Mr. Ryan Sanderson, the conference will feature three main tracks: the Healthcare Management Conference, the Public Health Conference, and the Clinical Officers Conference. These tracks will focus on the progress and financing of universal healthcare policies, the roles of regional medical associations in strengthening universal health coverage, and the critical part that clinical officers play in upholding a strong healthcare infrastructure, respectively.
Mr. Sanderson noted that this will be the seventh Medic East Africa conference to be held, with over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries and more than 60 high-level conference presentations. The event is expected to welcome 4,000 attendees.
Kenya's health sector is expected to grow at a faster rate than the overall economy, with the sector valued at Ksh220 billion (USD 2.2 billion) and contributing 2% to the country's GDP. Last year, Kenya launched a pilot UHC scheme in four counties: Kisumu, Isiolo, Machakos, and Nyeri, with 91 percent of residents enrolling in local health insurance schemes.
The United Nations, under the sustainable development goal 3, calls on countries to 'achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential healthcare services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.'
