Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has underscored the government’s focus on strengthening Kenya’s health sector through better staffing, digitization, and stronger supply chains.
Speaking in Mombasa during a quarterly review meeting with county health executives, Dr. Oluga said close to 10,000 health workers had been hired under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme, with 7,629 still on the payroll.
An audit confirmed most of the deployments but also pointed out issues such as incomplete records, payroll errors, and gaps in qualifications.
He called on counties, the National Treasury, and unions to keep engaging and implement the agreed transition plan to secure jobs and maintain stability in the sector.
On digitization, the PS highlighted the rollout of the Integrated Health Information System in 11 counties. He also pointed to the Social Health Authority (SHA) claims platform, which is now live in more than 8,600 facilities, helping capture real-time data and speed up payments.
Membership under SHA has grown significantly from 8 million to 25.8 million Kenyans representing a 223 percent increase.
Dr. Oluga said over KES 64.9 billion has been collected so far, with KES 60.7 billion already paid out to health providers.
The scheme has also expanded benefits, especially in cancer treatment and ICU care. Still, he admitted that some counties are lagging in registration, while delays in employer remittances remain a concern.
On medical supplies, he noted progress at KEMSA, with local manufacturing now covering 65 percent of essential medicines. New distribution hubs have also been set up in Mombasa and Kisumu.
Dr. Oluga urged for more funding and resource mobilization to strengthen the supply chain and avoid service disruptions.
“With transparency, accountability, and innovation, we can deliver a stronger health system that protects Kenyans from both disease and poverty,” he said.