CS Dr. Barasa Leads Senior Health Management Meeting
During the discussions, Dr. Barasa emphasized the importance of strengthening healthcare systems to improve overall service delivery and communications within the sector.

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa leads Senior Health Management meeting. Photo/Ministry of Health.
In a key senior management meeting this morning, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, addressed several pressing healthcare delivery issues impacting the country.
The meeting focused on the successful implementation of the Social Health Authority, which currently serves over 18 million Kenyans, and the ongoing review of its benefit package to better cater to the evolving healthcare needs of the public.
During the discussions, Dr. Barasa emphasized the importance of strengthening healthcare systems to improve overall service delivery and communications within the sector.
She underscored the need for enhanced coordination and clearer channels of communication between various healthcare institutions to ensure better efficiency and accessibility for all Kenyans.
A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to reinforcing the country’s Ebola surveillance systems.
Dr. Barasa called for a more robust approach to detecting and managing potential Ebola outbreaks, noting that strengthening surveillance is crucial to ensuring the safety of the population, especially in light of global health challenges.
Dr. Barasa also highlighted the importance of sustainable financing for the healthcare system, particularly in the context of increasing domestic funding.
With the current executive order on U.S.-funded programs continuing to shape the landscape of healthcare financing, the Cabinet Secretary urged for greater domestic resource mobilization.
She emphasized that securing a self-sustaining healthcare financing model would help the country better respond to public health challenges without relying too heavily on external funding.
Additionally, Dr. Barasa called for regular progress reports and the implementation of stronger monitoring and evaluation processes within healthcare initiatives.
This, she stressed, would allow for more effective oversight and timely adjustments to policies, ensuring that healthcare services continue to meet the needs of the population as efficiently as possible.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system through innovation, sustainable financing, and enhanced surveillance capabilities.
Dr. Barasa’s leadership remains pivotal in driving forward the government’s efforts to provide accessible, quality healthcare to all citizens.