M a r k e t N e w s
CS health calls for increased investment in the health sector to achieve UHC
Posted on : Thursday, 8th September 2016
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Cleopa Mailu is calling on investors to take advantage of opportunites in the health sector to invest and asssit the nation to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals.
The CS said Kenya’s determination to achieve the Universal Health Coverage goals has created investment opportunities in the health sector which includes establishment of high-end medical institutions in partnership with Kenyan entrepreneurs to meet both local and regional demands for specialized treatment.
The country he added requires private health insurance providers for affordable and innovative products and medical plans, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) that target the middle income earners with a focus on reducing direct payments for health care.
The CS made the remarks in Cape Town, South Africa on Thursday during the 2nd Kenya – South Africa Trade and Investment Summit whose theme is “Pushing Economic Diplomacy to a New Frontier”
Kenya he noted has great opportunities for manufacturing health products and technologies including medicines, non-pharmaceuticals and medical equipment for local and regional markets.
‘’With regards to the pharmaceutical sector, Kenya is the hub of the pharmaceutical industry in East and Central Africa. Thus there is need for establishment of specialized modern low cost manufacturing facilities,’’ said the CS
The CS noted that the health system in Kenya is at a critical point of development with a need to address a huge burden of disease comprising of communicable diseases, lifestyle related non-communicable diseases including cancers and injuries.
‘’As a middle income country, we are committed to implementing health system reforms that would accelerate movement towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with our country’s Constitution and long term development blueprint, Vision 2030,’’ said the CS.
Dr. Mailu also acknowledged that the dual health care delivery system in Kenya comprising of the publicly and privately funded providers, has largely contributed to the gains in health goals characterized by an improvement in life expectancy from 51 years to 60 years in the last decade.
This change has mainly been driven by investments in interventions that target child survival, maternal care and control of the major communicable diseases; HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The private sector has been active in pharmaceutical manufacturing, production and provision of medical equipment and related technologies, private health insurance, training of health care professionals and implementation of the Managed Equipment Service.
‘’Our focus is now on transforming health service delivery system to ensure access to affordable and quality health care while providing for adequate safety nets for the poor and vulnerable segments of the population,’’ he emphasized.
Source : www.health.go.ke
