Kenyans in rural and mission hospital catchment areas will soon have easier access to advanced diagnostic services, with the government set to launch new CT scans at Tenwek and Dream Lands Hospitals.
The announcement was made by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale after a meeting with faith-based health providers in Nairobi, where he emphasized that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) must include modern equipment and infrastructure.
“For too long, patients in rural areas have had to travel to big cities for scans and specialized tests,” said Duale. “By installing CT scans in mission hospitals, we are bringing advanced care closer to the people.”
Duale is also scheduled to visit the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) in the next two weeks, a facility that plays a critical role in distributing medicines to faith-based hospitals across the country.
The visit is expected to strengthen collaboration between government and MEDS in ensuring steady access to quality drugs.
Faith leaders welcomed the news, saying new diagnostic equipment would save families from high travel costs and long waiting times.
“Many of our patients come from poor households. Having CT scans at mission hospitals means early diagnosis, timely treatment, and lives saved,” said Rt. Rev. Cleophas Oseso of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The CT scan installations are part of broader efforts to improve infrastructure under Taifa Care, which also include digitization of hospitals, recapitalization of KEMSA, and support for human resources.
Faith-based organizations agreed to work with the ministry in identifying remote facilities that could benefit from future equipment support.
“This is how Universal Health Coverage becomes real — when families in Bomet, Narok, or remote counties can walk into a local mission hospital and access the same services as someone in Nairobi,” Duale said.
