PS Ouma Oluga Urges Counties to Fast-Track UHC Reforms as Kenya Enters Implementation Phase
The appeal came during a national health meeting in Kisumu bringing together health officials from all 47 counties.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga has told county governments to hurry up with the Universal Health Coverage UHC reforms, saying Kenya’s healthcare change has basically moved from just talking about policy now to full on implementation, you know, like doing it.
He said this when he opened a two-day meeting for Chief Officers of Health from all 47 counties in Kisumu. Dr. Oluga noted that key legislation brought in over the last few years has already put a solid legal base down for the reforms, but it now needs proper, coordinated action between national government and county governments, not only one side.
“The Social Health Insurance Act, Digital Health Act, Primary Health Care Act and Facility Improvement Financing Act have given the groundwork for reshaping how healthcare is delivered. What we need now is effective and coordinated implementation,” Dr. Oluga said.
The PS also pointed out the big strides being made under the Social Health Authority (SHA). He revealed that 31.39 million Kenyans have registered for the scheme since October 2024.
As per Dr. Oluga, SHA has so far paid out KES 147.37 billion in claims. It has also contracted 11,034 health facilities, and it has financed more than 1.16 million deliveries across the country.
“These achievements show that the reforms are picking up pace and are already improving access to healthcare services for many millions of Kenyans,” he added.
Maternal and newborn health remains a central matter under Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) initiative, with the government pouring in resources to improve access to quality maternal healthcare services.
Dr. Oluga disclosed that more than KES 17 billion has been used for maternity services, and more than KES 9 billion has been sent straight to county health facilities. He went further to say, an extra KES 4.2 billion has also been secured to support maternal health services in Level 2 and Level 3 facilities.
“Boosting maternal and newborn health outcomes remains at the heart of our healthcare agenda, and we are determined to make sure every mother and child gets quality care,” he said.
Dr. Oluga went on to ask counties to push harder with SHA registration drives and public awareness initiatives, so that more Kenyans can benefit from the health insurance programme.
He also called for the transition of UHC staff into substantive positions by July 1, 2026. Plus, he said there should be deployment of dedicated SHA claims officers in Level 4 facilities and above, along with strengthening blood donation programmes and improving health commodity management systems.
On health facility regulation, Dr. Oluga reported encouraging progress. He said 6,015 county health facilities currently hold valid operating licences, which works out to 88 percent compliance rate across the nation.
“This progress in facility licensing shows that we are serious about raising standards, safety and quality of healthcare services throughout the country,” he stated.
The meeting is being organized by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Council of Governors. It is reviewing how far UHC reforms have gone and looking at priority actions to strengthen healthcare delivery in all 47 counties.
Among the attendees are Dr. Kevin Osuri, Chairperson of the Council of Governors Health Caucus; Juanita Kuto representing the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Governors; Dr. Waqo Ejersa, Chief Executive Officer of KEMSA; officials from the Social Health Authority (SHA), Digital Health Agency (DHA), Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS), development partners, and senior Ministry of Health officials.
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