by Megha Rana
Since Kenya’s independence in 1963, a national focus has been on building a healthy working country, with “healthcare for all” as a centerpiece. The first developmental plan for Kenya was released in 1965, with the purpose of designing a healthy state of growth for the nation and developing social/economic relations. Called the “Sessional Paper”, it emphasized the elimination of disease, poverty, and illiteracy. While noble, it did not succeed in managing the healthcare needs of a growing and diverse population.
It was not until 1994, that the government approved the Kenya Health Policy Framework (KHPF) for developing and managing health services. The policy focused on four areas: sustainable, accessible, and affordable quality healthcare; sharing of resources; participation and working with others; and the consistent involvement of the government.
To bring this policy into action, in 1996, the Ministry of Health (MOH) developed the Kenya Health Policy Framework Implementation Action Plan and established the Health Sector Reform Secretariat (HSRS) to track the progress of the implementation process. However, this plan soon failed because it lacked the necessary infrastructure. A new plan called the National Health Sector Strategic Plan was created in its place. Controlled by the central government, it offered free universal healthcare.
However, by the early 2000’s, with the population growing at a rate faster than the expansion of the healthcare system, a supply crisis emerged. A lack of funding and clinics meant few citizens could access basic healthcare. This led to another radical change in the healthcare system, putting greater emphasis on private sector healthcare and the government’s role in regulating preventative health. Like many countries, politics remained a real driver of health reform in Kenya.
In 2008, the Ministry of Health was split into two branches, creating a redundant system with duplicated efforts, difficulty in sharing resources and unreliability in assigned responsibilities. New health reforms were needed to provide equitable, accessible, and affordable healthcare to all.
Stay tuned for Part 2.
References:
https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/spa8/02chapter2.pdf
Wamai, Richard G.. “Administration and Reforms in Post-Colonial Kenya and Challenges for the Future.” (2009).