Nairobi, Kenya, Nov 29 – Zamara Group today hosted an exclusive stakeholders’ meeting themed ‘The Road to Universal Health Coverage’ whose goal is to ensure everyone has access to quality and affordable medical coverage in Kenya.
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) seeks to achieve equity, efficiency and quality healthcare for all Kenyan citizens and will unlock many economic benefits and improve life of its citizens by discussing ways that the government can use to achieve quality and affordable healthcare for all.
Speaking during the meeting, Zamara Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Olubayi stated that in order to deliver on UHC there is need to ensuring equity in access to health services, good quality of healthcare, improving the health of those receiving the services and implementing policies to bridge the gap between now and future.
“UHC ensures people are protected against financial risks by ensuring the cost of using services does not put them at risk of financial harm and also is accountable to translating commitments relating to access, quality and financial protection into action,” said Olubayi.
He added that the journey towards achieving UHC is a significant component of Kenya’s Vision 2030’s social pillar thus merits their attention and participation as an important stakeholder, for the medical insurance ensures ease of access and quality care to members.
“This program would be run by NHIF, governed by the Ministry of Health and will serve as the country’s healthcare coverage program for all Kenyan citizens regardless of their social or financial status,” said Olubayi.
On her part, Ministry of Health (MoH) Lead UHC Secretariat Dr Liz Wangia said that their services are patient centred thus urged the government to improve the services to a position that the public can be reminded of their different service inquiries for instance pregnant women to be reminded on their due dates and mothers reminded on their children’s immunization dates.
“In Kenya we believe that provision of equitable and affordable healthcare will boost productivity of the people and contribute effectively to the growth of our economy and the Government is fully committed to supporting the UAC together with various partnerships,” said Wangia.
She reiterated that the biggest infrastructure of health is the government and the government’s healthcare infrastructure work has been achieved through the partnerships in the sector across the country.
In his remarks, at a panel discussion, National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Head Beneficiary Management Wambugu Kariuku noted that they are focused on affordability and accessibility of healthcare and this has been brought about by their partnership with the government in ensuring people renew their permits and covers after a given period.
“The proposed NHIF Amendments Bill 2021, which aims at guarantying all Kenyans in accessing health care, is one of the main highlights in the social security space in 2021 and there is need to work with the Government and private partners to order to be able to away with medical frauds,” said Wambugu Kariuku.
He stated that in order to maintain a sustaining UHC, they will ensure that there is adequacy in workforce, improvement of skills in the healthcare sector, health facility financing and subsidization of medical costs for low-income households.
