New survey shows Kenyans back higher taxes for universal health coverage

A new survey has revealed that a significant number of Kenyans are open to an increase in taxes in order to access universal health coverage.

According to the Afrobarometer findings released to coincide with the World Health Day, only 37 per cent of Kenyans say they have medical aid coverage.

The survey also revealed that 57 per cent of Kenyans agree or strongly agree on the need for the government to provide universal health coverage compared to 39 per cent who are opposed/strongly opposed to it.

According to Afrobarometer, the sentiments were made when those who participated in the poll when specifically asked whether the government should ensure that all citizens have access to adequate health care, even if that means raising taxes.

Overall, the survey, which was conducted in 28 countries, revealed that medical aid coverage is the exception rather than the rule across Africa.

On average across the polled countries, fewer than one in four adults say they have insurance that helps pay their
medical bills if they get sick.

Most citizens say they worry about being unable to obtain or afford medical care when they need it, including more than half who say they worry “a lot.”

Only 23 per cent of citizens across the 28 countries say they have medical aid coverage. While large majorities say they have health insurance in Gabon (83 per cent), Ghana (72 per cent), Morocco (71 per cent), and Tunisia (70 per cent), fewer than one in 20 citizens say the same in Lesotho (2 per cent), Malawi (4 per cent), Uganda (4 per cent), and São Tomé and Príncipe (4 per cent).

Fully three-quarters (75 per cent) of Africans say they worry “somewhat” (21 per cent) or “a lot” (54 per cent) about being unable to obtain or afford medical care when they need it, in addition to 14 per cent who worry “a little.” Only 11 per cent say they are not concerned.

Seven in 10 citizens (70 per cent) support the idea that government should ensure that all citizens have access to adequate health care, even if that means raising taxes.

No-remittance of funds has, however, seen some private facilities demand out-of-pocket clearance of bills.
Support for guaranteed universal access to health care reaches almost nine out of 10 citizens in Gabon (89 per cent), Cabo Verde (88 per cent), and Guinea (86 per cent). Even in Mauritius and Morocco, the only surveyed countries where this is not the majority view, pluralities of 45 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively, are in agreement .

The survey report comes at a time Kenyans are grappling with challenges in accessing healthcare with the government’s rollout of the universal health coverage suffering setbacks due to technical hitches at the Social Health Authority.

This despite President William Ruto’s administration making it mandatory to register with the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) to access services in both public and private hospitals.

This despite the aim of universal health coverage being ensuring that all Kenyans access and receive essential quality health services without suffering financial hardship, including promotive, preventive, curative,
rehabilitative and palliative health services.