Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has broken down the outpatient services in public health facilities, which are now being offered free of charge. In a statement on Sunday, August 10, Duale reminded Kenyans that public health facilities from Level 2 to Level 4 were offering outpatient services free of charge following a directive from President William Ruto. "In a decisive step towards achieving and implementing the Government's goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), H.E.
President William Ruto has directed that all outpatient services in government dispensaries, health centres and sub-county hospitals be offered free of charge in accordance with the Primary Health Care fund," said Duale.
The initiative, according to Duale, was anchored under the Social Health Authority (SHA) and was available to every Kenyan registered with the government health cover. An image of a vehicle attached to the Social Health Authority (SHA) Kenyans.co.ke Duale further clarified a number of services which were available for free, including a wide range of primary health care interventions, including consultation, diagnosis and treatment for common medical conditions. For these essential but basic services, patients would no longer be required to pay out of pocket. Also included in the free package were laboratory services, with the government seeking to ensure that diagnostic processes are accessible to everyone regardless of their income or location. Going forward, patients will also be able to access basic radiological examinations, including X-rays and ultrasounds.
These diagnostic tools are crucial for early detection and management of many modern chronic illnesses. Under the free services, patients are also entitled to access to medication at no charge.
