Nairobi: Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has launched three landmark documents that will shape Kenya's efforts to enhance the quality, equity, and efficiency of healthcare delivery across the country. Speaking during the launch in Nairobi, Duale said that the documents reflect the collective work of the Ministry of Health in collaboration with county governments, the private sector, faith-based organizations, and development partners.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Kenya Quality of Care and Human Resources for Health Assessment Report, the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA), and the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) Investment Case reports presented a detailed overview of the state of Kenya's health system and the investments required to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The CS reaffirmed that quality healthcare remains a constitutional right enshrined in Article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya and emphasized that the reports align with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Sustainable Development Goal 3 on good health and well-being. 'By anchoring health system improvements within the BETA framework, we ensure our reforms remain people-centered, equitable, and responsive to the needs of all communities especially those historically underserved,' he added.
Duale further noted that the findings would guide ongoing legislative and policy reforms, including the Quality of Healthcare and Patient Safety Bill currently before the Senate. He thanked development partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Fund, UNFPA, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO) for their technical and financial support in producing the reports. 'These reports reaffirm our shared commitment to build a healthcare system that meets the expectations of our citizens and sets a benchmark for quality care across the region,' he asserted as he officially launched the documents.
Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Dr. Mary Muthoni, said the assessments were carried out to address stagnation in health outcome indicators and to ensure health investments translate into measurable results. 'Our objective was to evaluate service availability, readiness, and quality across all levels of care to strengthen accountability, enhance client satisfaction, and guide targeted resource allocation,' she said.
Muthoni added that data-driven decision-making must become the cornerstone of Kenya's health reforms as she called on all stakeholders to move discussions into action. She also stated that experience of care, especially for adolescents and vulnerable groups, must be improved, saying that the immediate priority is to make every delivery facility ready for emergencies. The PS further underscored the importance of respectfully institutionalizing maternity care and ensuring rapid maternal and neonatal death reviews to prevent avoidable fatalities. 'Whether in the public or private sector, every delivery facility must be prepared for emergencies and committed to compassionate, high-quality service,' she noted.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, said the reports provide a solid evidence base to inform policy, planning, and budgeting processes. He also highlighted the need to establish continuous professional development and standardize clinical care through universal access to updated guidelines and supportive supervision. Oluga said health workers are at the heart of service delivery and such strengthening their skills, motivation, and working conditions is essential to achieving Universal Health Coverage.