Universal health care 2023-2024. Kenya is planning to establish a health facility for every 5,000 citizens as part of its universal health coverage program, which President William Ruto launched on Friday.
The Primary Health Care Act of 2023, one of four health laws signed by President Ruto,
RecommendedPosts
outlines the construction of community health units to improve access to primary healthcare services at the grassroots level.
These units, each serving a population of up to 5,000 people, will be established by county governments.
The new laws also mandate contributions to a Social Health Insurance Fund for both formal and informal sector workers, with contributions based on a percentage of their monthly pay.
The new regulations aim to enhance healthcare accessibility in Kenya, but challenges exist, including the shortage of healthcare workers and underfunded public health facilities.
The success of this initiative will depend on significant investments in personnel and facilities.
Universal health care 2023-2024.
Furthermore, these changes will require all adults seeking government services to contribute to the Social Health Insurance Fund.
Foreigners staying in Kenya for over 12 months must also enroll and contribute to the social health insurance scheme,
while short-term visitors must purchase travel health insurance.
To prevent fraud, severe penalties are in place for individuals making false claims.
The existing National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is expected to be dissolved by October 19, 2024, with its assets transferred to the Social Health Insurance Fund.
This move is a significant step towards achieving the World Health Organization’s global healthcare access standards.
Nonetheless, Kenya faces substantial challenges in implementing this program, including a shortage of healthcare workers and an unequal distribution of healthcare facilities.
The Ministry of Health’s plans to hire 20,000 additional healthcare workers may be hindered by limited funding.
Additionally, many Kenyans have sought treatment in private healthcare facilities due to the poor condition of public health facilities.
Universal health care 2023-2024.
In conclusion, these changes signal a substantial shift in Kenya’s public health sector.
The success of this ambitious healthcare plan will depend on robust investments in healthcare personnel, facilities, and resources.
The program will encompass three separate funds dedicated to preventive and primary healthcare, primary referrals, and chronic disease treatment.
It also aims to create a comprehensive data pool to enhance patient history accessibility in State-contracted health facilities.
The government’s goal is to bring Kenya closer to internationally accepted healthcare access standards.
