President William Ruto has today at Statehouse, Nairobi met health officials led by Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha over the planned rollout of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
UHC is one of the key programmes in the Kenya Kwanza manifesto that the government seeks to fully implement.
It is aimed at ensuring that all Kenyans access free quality health services, including for critical illnesses such as cancer.
The government has set up three funds to meet the cost of UHC which are the Primary Health Care Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund and Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.
During the meeting, the officials briefed the President on the status of its rollout.
Others present during the meeting were Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni and Acting Director General for Health Patrick Amoth.
Beginning next month, Kenyans will be required to first visit a health facility within their chosen hub when seeking services.
The hubs, called Primary Health Care Network may then refer them to a higher hospital within or outside the network.
One PCN consists of several dispensaries, health centres and at least one Level 4 hospital that acts as the referral facility for that network.
Muthoni said to date, just 160 primary care networks have been successfully set up, and 41 are in progress.
Treasury allocated allocated Sh120.7 billion to the health ministry.
The Primary Healthcare Fund, the pot of money that will fund services in dispensaries and health centres, will receive Sh4.1 billion in 2024-25.
The fund is the first point of entry for Kenyans seeking health services through the Social Health Authority from July 1.
SHA is the body that will replace the National Health Insurance Fund. PHC will be entirely funded from the exchequer.
Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u also proposed Sh2 billion to the Emergencies Chronic and Critical Illness Fund, one of the three funds under SHA.
The third fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, is paid for through direct contributions by Kenyans through premiums.
Ndung’u also put in funds in several aspects of the universal health coverage, which will be driven by SHA.
This includes Sh4.2 billion for the UHC coordination and management unit.
The amount also included Sh2 billion for free maternity healthcare and Sh3.6 billion for Managed Equipment Services.
Ndung'u proposed that Sh86 million be allocated to provide medical cover for orphans, the elderly and disabled persons.
More funds will be injected to support Community Health Promoters, who will be key during the rollout of the SHA in July.
The national government foots half of the pay of the 100,000 CHPs, with the balance paid by counties.
Treasury proposed Sh4.6 billion for their stipend and acquisition of specialised medical equipment that they need for work.
The CS also proposed Kenya contribute Sh28.7 billion to the Global Fund, which is a major donor for Kenya’s HIV, malaria and TB programmes.