Experts Urge Fairness and Openness in Kenya’s Healthcare Reforms
A high-profile gathering of healthcare professionals, legal experts, policymakers, and community advocates has put Kenya’s healthcare system under scrutiny, calling for urgent reforms to ensure equitable access to quality medical services.
The forum, which was marked by passionate speeches and tough questions, focused on systemic failures in healthcare governance and proposed actionable solutions.
One of the central debates was Kenya’s transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), a move that has sparked concerns over inefficiencies and resource wastage.
Speaking on Monday at the event,Executive Director of the International Commission of Jurists Kenya Erick Mukoya questioned as he delivered a keynote address critiquing the transition.
“Why must we reinvent the wheel, causing duplicity and resource wastage?”.
His sentiments were echoed by many attendees, who raised concerns about inclusivity and the financial sustainability of the new system.
Deputy President and National Chair of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Dr.Kahura Mundia noted that their is a shortage of healthcare professionals which is a pressing issue in the health sector.
“The World Health Organization recommends one doctor per 1,000 patients, but Kenya struggles with one doctor per 5,000-6,000 patients.”He warned that the severe understaffing not only strains the healthcare system but also increases the risk of recurring medical strikes.
The forum also honored Grace Njoki Mulei, a retired nurse and patient activist whose bold advocacy gained national attention after she publicly decried the malfunctions of the Social Health Authority (SHA) at Afya House. A moment of silence was observed in recognition of her contributions, with her story serving as a rallying cry for greater citizen involvement in healthcare reforms.
Dan Owalla, a representative from the People’s Health Movement, emphasized the need for public participation in health governance, noting that many Kenyans are unaware of their rights or the mechanisms to hold the government accountable.
Strengthening legal frameworks to ensure healthcare policies align with citizens’ needs was also a key theme.
Making his remarks,Constitutional law expert Professor Mutakha Kangu stressed the importance of legal accountability in healthcare delivery.
Participants also called out corruption and misallocation of public funds as major barriers to healthcare improvement. The infamous KEMSA scandal was cited as a case study of how corruption undermines service delivery.
Among the proposed solutions were:Earmarked taxes on consumables like sugar and fuel to sustainably fund healthcare,simplifying legal language to make healthcare policies more accessible to ordinary Kenyans,addressing the rural-urban divide to ensure equitable distribution of resources and medical personnel.
As Kenya navigates its healthcare reforms, the voices from this forum serve as a clarion call for transparency, equity and justice in the country’s health governance. The demand is clear: a healthcare system that prioritizes the people over politics.
