Government Commits Sh6.2b for Universal Health Care Contract Workers

By Mwakwaya Raymond

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Health cabinet secretary Aden Duale says the government has committed Ksh6.2 billion for promotion and employment of universal health coverage (UHC) contract health workers in this fiscal year 2025/26.

Speaking when he appeared before the national assembly committee on health, the CS said that Ksh1.75 billion has been allocated to settle outstanding medical arrears.

Additionally, he added that Ksh4.2 billion has been committed for intern deployment and Ksh3.2 billion for community health promoters.

The Cabinet Secretary told members of Parliament that the government was investing Ksh13 billion in primary healthcare and Ksh8 billion in emergency, chronic, and critical illness services.

According to him at least 24.4 million Kenyans had enrolled into the Taifa care by Monday July 7, 2025 night.

He said the social health authority (SHA) has empanelled 9,365 healthcare facilities, comprising 5,219 public, 3,650 private, and 496 faith-based institutions countrywide.

“Since its operationalisation on 1st October, 2024, over 24.4 million Kenyans have enrolled into Taifa Care programme. A total of 5.8 million Kenyans have undergone testing, thus ensuring equity in contributions,” he said.

“These serve an estimated 6.2 million Kenyans through the Primary Health Care Fund (PHCF) and the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).”

In his view, SHA has ensured monthly reimbursement, every 14 of every month by we reimbursing claims. “If we don’t pay you, you must ask us why because we will only pay genuine claims. If your claim is not victorious.”

According to him over 4.3 million Kenyans have accessed free primary care under PHCF, while 1.9 million have benefited from specialized care under SHIF, including dialysis, imaging, cancer care, and maternal health.

The CS said his ministry has transformed the health systems through digitisation saying it has curbed fraud.

“Through the Digital Health Agency (DHA), we are implementing a Comprehensive Integrated Health Information System, enabling real-time service tracking and eliminating inefficiencies. Over 13,000 users have been trained, and digitization is now active in 24 counties, covering both county and Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) facilities.”

He added: “Working in close collaboration with SHA and KMPDC, DHA has facilitated the identification and closure of 983 non-compliant health facilities and downgraded 487 others.”

SHA digital platform has eliminated over 3 million fraudulent entries from the legacy NHIF system, he said and now operated an integrated, paperless ecosystem.

“We have ensured interoperability of patient data through the Afya Yangu platform, offering health data portability across the country.”

The secretary reiterated that the ministry has embarked on far-reaching reforms at KEMSA aimed at restoring confidence and ensuring the availability of essential medicines.

“These efforts include the recapitalization of KEMSA to ensure sustained access to medical commodities for all public health facilities.

In terms of human resources for health, the Ministry acknowledges the indispensable role of healthcare workers.”

Meanwhile, the National Assembly health committee chair Dr James Nyikal has called for concerted efforts to ensure full realization of the government’s universal health coverage.

Dr Nyikal said the success of universal health coverage should not be as a result of good policies, but a joint working relationship.

The chair said the health systems in Kenya must be improved to ensure seamless health service delivery to the public.

On UHC, he said the government should improve the health status of grassroots health facilities so as to serve a majority of Kenyans.

The Council of Governors health committee chair Muthomi Njuki said more resources should be channelled to the county governments to ensure the health sector was boosted.

Speaking on behalf of the county governors, Njuki said the health sector was still faced by structural and technical gaps that needed attention.

“The transfer of UHC staff to counties, we need the government to allocate more resources to cater for the UHC staff transfer process.”

Counties also need more resources for primary health care services to ensure seamless delivery of grassroots health services.

He said a proper policy is required to ensure full implementation of the facility improvement funds (FIF) program in the counties.

Through its chair, the COG wants delays of county allocations to be addressed immediately so as to ensure health systems are streamlined and operational.

He said counties were committed to be real architects of the full implementation of universal health coverage.