Cancer patients in Kenya are likely to get more support with their treatment as the government has raised the amount it offers to patients seeking oncology services in the country.
According to a statement released by Raymond Omollo on Monday, the government has raised the amount it offers to patients seeking cancer treatment in the country from 550,000 shillings to 800,000 shillings.
The move by the government to increase the amount by 250,000 shillings has been made after months of worry by patients with cancer in the country over the high cost of treating the disease.
The SHA program offers patients with cancer in Kenya several services that include diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, brachytherapy, surgery, palliative care, medical supplies, and special imaging services like PET scans and MRIs in the country.
The move by the government to raise the amount it offers to patients seeking oncology services in Kenya has been done to reduce the burden that patients with cancer in the country face.
The government has been committed to ensuring that patients with cancer in Kenya have access to the best services in the country.
“The government remains committed to expanding access to cancer care in Kenya through progressive policies and investment in health infrastructure,” the authority added.
The government is also in the process of increasing cancer treatment facilities by developing more advanced facilities in various parts of the country.
Omollo explained that the Kisii cancer center is currently 30 percent complete and is intended to serve patients in the South Nyanza region upon completion.
“The project is currently at about 30 percent completion, with works progressing on the third floor. Construction of the chemotherapy center block is expected to begin next week,” he explained.
This comes just a few days after Mercy Mwangangi announced that the authority had released 11.1 billion to settle approved health insurance claims.
The payment to hospitals began on March 13 and is expected to end by March 19.
Although the authority has been facing difficulties in staffing in recent times, they have managed to raise 142.8 billion in contributions, move 29.8 million Kenyans to the new health insurance, and pay out 109 billion in claims to healthcare facilities.
