This archive report was first published on 12 January 2020.
Published on January 12, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration has prioritized healthcare, with a focus on providing free maternal healthcare and implementing the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.
One of the key initiatives under the UHC programme is the provision of affordable healthcare to the majority poor Kenyans. The programme aims to take quality healthcare closer to the people, with the overall objective of making healthcare a right that all Kenyans deserve.
However, the logistics of implementing the UHC programme remain a huge challenge. To address this, the government has launched a pilot scheme in four counties - Kisumu, Machakos, Isiolo, and Nyeri - targeting 3.2 million Kenyans. The pilot scheme, which is part of the Sh3.1 billion Afya Care Initiative, aims to provide viable lessons on how to improve access to quality healthcare for the majority poor Kenyans.
Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki is upbeat about the progress, pointing out that despite the various challenges, including inadequate qualified health professionals, the UHC dream can still be realised. The government has also released Sh1.8 billion for the procurement of the required health products and technologies for the UHC pilot in the four selected counties.
