Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, has revealed plans to roll out the Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) programme, championed by the national government, that will ease access to health services for millions of Kenyans in the 47 devolved units. UHC is one of the “Big Four” strategic pillars declared by President Uhuru Kenyatta which will see major policy and administrative reforms in the medical sector, to ensure everyone has access to quality and affordable medical coverage.

Kagwe said the government will now shift focus on further reforming the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) establishing a mandatory UHC scheme, adopting an essential package of health services, and providing health coverage for an initial 1 million low-income households to be biometrically registered. He said going forward primary care facilities in rural areas will no longer suffer from shortages of staff, essential drugs, and basic medical equipment with the operationalization of the UHC.

The CS noted that the government is committed to providing UHC under the ‘Big Four Agenda’ as part of its socio-economic transformation by providing equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare of the highest standard to all Kenyans.