Devolution of healthcare has brought about access to healthcare services and even distribution of health workers across the country, Country Manager, International Budget Partnership – Kenya, (IBP-K) Abraham Rugo has said.
In a statement, Rugo noted that distribution of health workers across counties is changing under devolution as there is a significant increase in the number of health workers from the pre-devolution health staff in 2013 and now.
“There is a long history of unequal access to health services in Kenya. In 2013, Samburu and Mandera did not have a single dental staff. In these two counties, there was just one pharmacist. Mandera, Wajir, and Turkana were particularly marginalized,” he said.
In a research conducted in seven Counties: Mandera, Samburu, Wajir, Turkana, West Pokot, Kilifi and Elgeyo Marakwet, it established a 35 percent increase in the number of health workers from pre-devolution, and now as well as an increased change in proportion of high and moderate education health workers.