The government has made great strides in health care, with even a greater resolve to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all Kenyans and address global health threats.
Speaking during a press conference at the Ministry of Health Headquarters in Nairobi, Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muriuki documented the progress made so far, following the recent implementation of the country's Social Health Authority (SHA) program, while emphasizing the importance of digitization and community participation.
Pointing out that the program is all about equitable access for all Kenyans, Muriuki announced that the Taifa Care system, which is already in place in key counties, has brought down the turn-around time for outpatient procedures to only 46 minutes, largely improving efficiency. "Since October 2024, 907,853 people have utilized primary healthcare among SHA members and claims valued at Sh14.6 billion have been approved," she revealed.
However, despite this remarkable progress, the PS noted that bottlenecks still remain, including low weekend enrollment and delays occasioned by dependents being enrolled only at the time of seeking care.