This archive report was first published on 10 October 2019.
As of October 10, 2019, the Kenyan Health ministry had no official count of citizens seeking cancer treatment abroad in the past five years, despite nearly 600 registering officially.
According to Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman, 597 Kenyans sought cancer treatment abroad in the past five years, with the majority obtaining approval from the ministry in line with a legal notice on rules for referrals of patients abroad.
However, Dr. Aman noted that the exact number of those who have sought cancer treatment abroad in the last five years cannot be ascertained, citing the ministry's reliance on records of patients who have sought approval.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa had requested the ministry to provide statistics on the number of Kenyans seeking cancer treatment abroad, but Dr. Aman's response was met with skepticism, with Mr. Barasa claiming that CASs are not constitutionally recognized.
According to data tabled by the ministry, 228 Kenyans sought government permission to be treated abroad between 2015 and 2019, with 113 requesting approval this year, 86 in 2016, and 25 in 2015.
