PS Oluga leads talks to fast-track Universal Health Coverage implementation

The meeting, held at the Treasury Building, brought together Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga and Principal Secretary for the National Treasury Dr. Chris Kiptoo to deliberate on ways of securing sustainable financing for strategic health programmes aimed at enhancing efficiency, improving service delivery, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the country’s health sector.

In a move marking the first time the Ministry of Health is directly aligning health priorities with financial planning, Dr Oluga emphasised the need to ensure that available resources are directed toward meeting citizen health needs and strengthening critical service areas.

Dr Oluga outlined key priority areas, including strengthening national referral services, ensuring a steady supply of essential medicines and health technologies, supporting blood transfusion services, advancing medical research and innovation, and boosting local vaccine production.

He further highlighted the importance of adequate and predictable funding to complete ongoing health infrastructure projects, maintain essential health commodities, and support operations in hospitals and community health programmes. 

He noted that budgetary constraints and declining donor funding continue to affect the smooth running of referral facilities, research institutions, and community health initiatives.

“Both Principal Secretaries reaffirmed their commitment to aligning financial planning with national health priorities, underscoring the importance of health financing reforms, digital transformation, and investment in the health workforce to strengthen accountability and improve access to quality healthcare for all Kenyans,” said the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

“Through this coordinated approach, the government seeks to fortify the national health system, shield citizens from catastrophic medical costs, and deliver on President William Ruto’s pledge to make quality healthcare accessible to every Kenyan under the UHC framework.”