The Government has allocated Sh146.8 billion to the health sector to support the various programmes aimed at improving health outcomes.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani noted that the allocation aims at strengthening the health care systems in the quest for universal health coverage.
“Better health outcomes depend on the availability, accessibility and capacity of health workers to deliver quality services anchored on well-equipped and provisioned health care facilities,” he stated.
Yatani highlighted that the government health Care is one of the Big Four Agenda of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.
The government has so far implemented various initiatives laying ground for achieving the goal of 100 percent health insurance coverage.
“Key among these initiatives include the free maternity programme dubbed: Linda Mama which currently benefits over 1 million mothers annually increasing the total number of health workers in the public and private sector investment in the health infrastructure and development of a digital health platform supporting effective monitoring of the health sector,” he said.
In the Sh146.8 billion allocated to health care Sh62.3 billion will fund activities and programmes for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
Specific allocations for various activities and programmes include Sh7 billion for purchase of Covid-19 vaccines and related expenditures Sh4.1 billion for Free Maternity Health Care.
Sh5.2 billion for the Managed Equipment Services as well as Sh1.8 billion to provide medical cover for the elderly and severely disabled persons in our society.
To lower cases of HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis in the country, Sh16.2 billion has been recommended for the purpose.
To enhance vaccines and immunisations programmes, he allocated Sh5.2 billion.
Yatani further indicated to improve health service delivery. Various hospitals across the country have also been allocated funds with the Kenyatta National Hospital being the biggest beneficiary after being allocated Sh18.1 billion.
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital has been allocated Sh11.7 billion followed by the Kenya Medical Training Centre getting Sh7.7 billion.
The Kenya Medical Research Institute has been allocated Sh2.9 billion.
Sh1.1 billion for the Kenya National Hospital and Pediatric Centre with Sh1.2 billion allocated for procurement of family planning and reproductive health care commodities.