Kenya is looking to use the health sector to attract investment, create jobs and support economic growth as it moves to implement a new USD 2.5 billion health cooperation framework with the United States.
The government says the partnership will focus on building a health system that can increasingly meet its own financing and service delivery needs while creating opportunities for businesses and investors.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale highlighted the plans during the two-day American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Business Summit held in Nairobi.
This conference saw the brought together Kenyan and American leaders along with regional and international leaders under the theme “Advancing Mutual Prosperity Through Trade and Investment.”
Health issues in the summit dwelt on creating “A Self-reliant, Investment-ready Health System,” with emphasis on topics like sustainable health financing, local manufacture of drugs, digital innovations, and private investment.
Kenya wants more private sector involvement
The health sector has been placed at the center of not just a social service but also the industrialization process, innovation, and employment.
One of the aspects that will be considered in this respect is that of local manufacture of drugs, reducing the import of drugs and providing opportunities to the manufacturers and other companies.
Digital innovations will have to be made a priority aspect here as well.
The government says stronger domestic capacity will be important in ensuring that the country’s health programmes can be sustained over the long term.
The approach is being linked to Taifa Care and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which are among the government’s key programmes.
US has invested billions in Kenya’s health sector
The new framework builds on a long-running health partnership between Kenya and the United States.
Over the past 25 years, the US has invested about USD 7 billion in Kenya’s health sector, supporting programmes and services across the country.
Under the new cooperation framework, Kenya wants the relationship to move towards greater shared responsibility, with more emphasis on sustainability and strengthening the country’s health system.
The USD 2.5 billion framework is therefore expected to support Kenya’s efforts to build a health sector that is better able to withstand future challenges while attracting additional investment.
Duale attended the summit alongside President William Ruto and other government and business leaders.
Among those present were US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia, US Embassy Kenya Chargé d’Affaires Susan Burns, Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, Mastercard Senior Vice President Azzam Alameddin and AmCham Board President Angela Nganga.
The government hopes the renewed partnership will not only improve healthcare but also create a stronger environment for investment, manufacturing and job creation in Kenya’s health sector.
