Blood availablity key to achieving Universal Health Coverage, Oluga says
Last financial year, KBTTS collected 449,000 units, exceeding its 400,000-unit target
Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga has reaffirmed the central role of blood availability in Kenya’s journey towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC), especially in efforts to reduce maternal mortality.
During a meeting with the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services (KBTTS) team, Dr Oluga emphasised effective planning, strengthening internal supply chains, and upgrading equipment to ensure the steady provision of safe blood and blood products. “Public trust and confidence is key,” he said, pointing to governance as a major challenge. “We must represent the government, not interests.”
He called on staff to work as a united team and support one another in service delivery. He further encouraged innovation, partnership-building, and collaboration with philanthropies to enhance blood services.
Dr Oluga stressed the need to align all efforts with the government’s health agenda, urging the team to deal with operational issues, rethink funding models, and use limited resources effectively.
“We must plan well and be clear about what we want to deliver,” he said. “Let us be agents of the ministry.”
The PS committed to working with the team to resolve operational, Human Resource, and infrastructure issues. He also highlighted the need to build an enabling environment for blood donors and to prioritise dignity and motivation among health workers.
KBTTS has moved from whole blood to blood component transfusion, in line with WHO guidance, and is digitizing services through the Damu-KE system. It runs six regional centres and all 47 counties now have the capacity to process and store blood.
Last financial year, KBTTS collected 449,000 units, exceeding its 400,000-unit target. Director General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth, commended the achievement and called for more engagement with counties, resource mobilization, development of guidelines, and fast-tracking the Blood Transfusion Bill.
Meanwhile, the ministry has underscored the critical role of Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) and local manufacturing in achieving UHC, calling for stronger leadership, accountability, and alignment across the sector.
Speaking during a strategic meeting with the Directorate of Health Products and Technologies, Oluga emphasised the need for sustainable, safe, and reliable commodity systems. “Our experience with cancer and COVID-19 has shown us the urgency of ensuring HPT sustainability,” he noted.
He challenged the Directorate to address stockouts—particularly of vaccines and essential medicines—eliminate substandard products, and build public trust in health commodities. He also urged the team to embrace innovation, discipline, and sound budgeting: “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
Among the achievements highlighted were the development of national oxygen delivery guidelines and the dissemination of the updated Essential Medicines List.
The ministry is currently finalising several key policy frameworks, including the Local Manufacturing Strategy, National Supply Chain Strategy, Donations Strategy, and a Pharmacy Benefits Package. It is also investing in HPT research and preparing a draft policy and bill to guide the integration of Traditional and Alternative Medicine.
