Healthcare sector players urge gov't not to shelf implementation of new UHC laws

While hailing President William Ruto for recently passing the health bills into law, the African Institute of Development Policy (AFIDEP) urged the government to effect the said laws to make a difference in the Kenyan health sector.

Speaking during a meeting between Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH)- Kenya chapter with the members of the parliamentary health committee in Nairobi, Dr Rose Oronje, the Head of AFIDEP Kenya termed the recent move by President Ruto of putting in place new laws to govern health sector as a milestone towards realising affordable and accessible healthcare to every Kenyan.

“Citizens are looking forward to leaders implementing these laws to change their lives,” she said, noting that there are several policies in place with which implementing has been a challenge.

On October 19, President Ruto signed four Universal Health Coverage (UHC) bills into law including; the Primary Health Care Bill, Facility Improvement Financing Bill, Digital Health Bill and the Social Health Insurance Bill which are meant to address issues such as low health insurance coverage and draining out-of-pocket costs.

At the meeting, the parliamentarians shared progress on the road to achieving commitments made in February 2023 during the Network of African Parliamentary Committees of Health (NEAPACOH) in Kampala, Uganda.

Kenya is yet to fulfil her commitment towards her budget for the health sector funding from Ksh.122 billion (USD.12.2M) to Ksh.154 billion (USD. 15.4M), institute a Facility Improvement Fund (FIF) law and provide seed funds for HIV, TB, RH products. 

While lauding the Kenyan government on its move on health, Peter Ngure, Programme Manager of the USAID-funded Building Capacity for Integrated Family Planning (FP) and Reproductive Health (RH) and Population, Environment and Development (PED) Action (BUILD) project on his part, called for the acceleration of access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for young people. 

On the other hand, Dr Robert Pukose, chairperson, of the Parliamentary Committee of Health assured participants that Parliament is committed to ensuring that Kenya has the right legal frameworks that will bolster the provision of family planning services in the country as the right path towards realising universal health coverage.

Ngure further urged for the adoption of systems thinking taking cognisance of the linkages of health, environment, population and development as enshrined in the five pillars of the SDGs; partnership, planet, people, prosperity and peace.