Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working with development partners to strengthen Kenya’s healthcare system, with a renewed focus on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), digital health and emergency preparedness.
Duale made the remarks during a consultative meeting with a delegation from global health organisation PATH Kenya, led by Country Director Carolyne Njuguna, where the two sides discussed ways of deepening collaboration in support of the country’s health priorities.
The meeting centred on expanding partnerships with civil society through evidence-based advocacy, integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare systems and tapping into PATH’s technical expertise to support sustainable, government-led health programmes.
Speaking during the meeting, Duale outlined key reforms currently underway in the health sector, saying the Ministry is preparing to operationalise the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre to improve emergency medical response across the country.
He also highlighted the rollout of the National Equipment Service Programme, which aims to decentralise specialised healthcare services, alongside the implementation of Taifa Care, ongoing digital health reforms and the nationwide expansion of the Community Health Promoters programme.
Health CS added that reforms within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) have played an instrumental role in enhancing medicine availability, indicating that the authority has attained an order fill ratio of 90 per cent.
Duale also expressed appreciation of PATH’s work with Kenya, describing the organization as a critical partner with Kenya in the development of programmes targeting infectious disease prevention, digital health, pharmaceutical manufacturing, health system strengthening, and non-communicable diseases integration into primary healthcare.
In addition, the talks looked into other areas of cooperation such as the establishment of Primary Care Networks, maintaining the routine immunization programme, disease surveillance and emergency preparedness, and financing of vaccine programmes by the government for long-term periods.
Considering the continued vigilance in the region due to the presence of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, the two sides also discussed ways of strengthening health security in Kenya and improving preparedness for any disease outbreaks that may occur from cross-border.
Duale thanked PATH’s intention to help implement the Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere program in Kajiado County. The project aims at improving maternal and newborn health through provision of technical assistance, policy recommendations based on evidence, advocacy, and improving primary healthcare systems.
He said the Ministry of Health remains committed to building structured, long-term partnerships that promote innovation, strengthen the country’s health systems and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all Kenyans.
The meeting was also attended by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, Director of Health Sector Coordination Dr Omar Albush, Kenya BioVax Institute Chief Executive Officer Wesley Rono, Head of the National Vaccines and Immunization Programme Dr Rose Jalang’o, National Syndemic Diseases Control Council Chief Executive Officer Douglas Bosire, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Health.