Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged Ministry of Health staff to adopt a patient-first culture in healthcare delivery, emphasizing respect, professionalism, and teamwork as key pillars in transforming Kenya’s health sector.
Speaking during an inaugural staff meeting in Nairobi, Duale reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing quality, accessible, and people-centered healthcare services for all citizens. He noted that every action taken within the health system must prioritize the well-being of Kenyans, in line with the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
“Our approach must always be patient-first,” he said, calling on health workers to uphold unity, respect, and professionalism across all levels. Duale stressed that the success of Kenya’s healthcare system depends on open communication, collaboration, and mutual respect among Ministry staff. Efficiency, he added, must always be coupled with compassion in service delivery.
The Cabinet Secretary encouraged the creation of a workplace culture that values teamwork, transparency, and accountability. He said that when health professionals work together with integrity, they strengthen not only the Ministry but also the trust Kenyans have in public institutions.
Duale underscored the importance of adhering to the public service principles outlined in Article 232 of the Constitution, which include transparency, integrity, and accountability. These values, he said, serve as a compass for delivering quality and equitable health services to all citizens.
Aligning the Ministry’s goals with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Duale reiterated that healthcare is a critical enabler of national development. Alongside economic reforms, industrialization, education, and technology, health plays a central role in achieving President William Ruto’s vision of transforming Kenya into a globally competitive nation.
He also called for equity in healthcare delivery, warning against a two-tier system where some Kenyans enjoy top-quality services while others struggle to access basic care. Equitable healthcare, he emphasized, is not just a government promise but a constitutional right and moral responsibility.
In his closing remarks, Duale commended health workers for their dedication to safeguarding the nation’s well-being. He urged continued collaboration and commitment toward achieving Kenya’s health transformation goals, highlighting the need to strengthen capacity in managing both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
The meeting brought together senior officials and staff from various departments to discuss teamwork, problem-solving, and alignment with the Ministry’s strategic objectives.
