Two years ago, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced plans to roll out Universal Health Coverage in 4 (Kisumu, Isiolo, Machakos, Nyeri) of the country’s 47 counties. Dubbed Afya Care- Wema wa Mkenya, the President, noted that residents of the four counties with UHC or Afya Care cards were to have access to free health services across public health facilities. This was to be done progressively to achieve nationwide Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2022. So 2022 is already here with us; what is the programme's progress?
Since its inception, the programme has eased access to health services for millions of people (World Health Organization,2020). By 2020, the Kenyan government constructed 200 community health units and recruited 7700 community health volunteers and 700 health workers. The programme's first year alone saw over 1.6 million people visit public hospitals for treatment.
It is important to note that the UHC programme is part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four Agenda and is to be achieved in two phases. The first “pilot” phase launched in 2018 is set to provide lessons to be used in scaling up UHC in the remaining 43 counties by 2022 ; the scaling of UHC is considered the 2nd phase of the programme, which will see the entire country get access to free healthcare.
The first phase of the programme was a success. According to World Health Organization (WHO), many residents who attended the launch of the UHC pilots in Kisumu expressed their gratitude. "Now I am assured that the money I will need for treating my children can go to their education," says one resident during the interview. Also, the first phase of UHC provided opportunities for complex issues like cancer to be integrated into the national UHC package. The Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) used the opportunity to advocate for the alignment of existing cancer services by submitting proposals and suggestions on the place of cancer within the UHC framework. A package was then developed for rollout in the four pilot counties. However, a clear package of services was not well defined despite several services being identified as beneficial to cancer patients.
What is the current status of UHC?
February 7th 2022, the president launched the National scale-up of UHC. The second phase of UHC scale up entails an output-financing model, through a UHC scheme nested in NHIF. The beneficiaries of the scheme shall include the poor and the vulnerable households, who shall be supported progressively through insurance subsidies.
"My administration has developed the Universal Healthcare Coverage Policy, covering the period 2020 – 2030, to guide the acceleration of the progress in attaining Universal Health Coverage,” the President said.
Through the second phase of UHC, the head of state is confident that the country will eradicate the poverty of dignity and transition into an era where no Kenyan will be forced to choose between medical bills and other essential needs. He also reminisced on the programme's successes in 2013 by noting that over one million mothers managed to benefit from the free maternity programme dubbed "Linda Mama."
On health infrastructure, President Kenyatta said the government's investments since 2013 have seen an increase of 43 percent in public health facilities from a stock of 4,429 facilities in 2013 to 6,342 currently.
“In the same period, our ICU capacity has increased by an impressive 502 percent; and our total hospital bed capacity has also increased significantly by 47 percent,” President Kenyatta said. To further realise the UHC goal, President Kenyatta welcomed the passing into law the NHIF Amendment Act by Parliament.
“I would not shy to say my administration has successfully set the unshakable foundation for achieving the goal of 100 percent health insurance coverage and as a result access to affordable and quality healthcare, so that never again should a Kenyan needlessly suffer or be driven to poverty because of medical bills,” he said.
Noting that the Act provides for NHIF to establish a centralized healthcare provider management system to ensure efficient management and payment of claims as well as data collection, the President directed NHIF to ensure the system is set up and operational by the end of June this year.