Kenya’s health sector has taken a major step forward following a high-level consultative meeting between national and county leaders to address challenges affecting the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) workforce, Social Health Authority (SHA) implementation, and career progression in the public health sector.
The meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Health, the Council of Governors, the Social Health Authority, and the Public Service Commission. The discussions focused on workforce management, financing, and governance three critical pillars necessary to strengthen the delivery of health services across the country.
One of the main resolutions was the validation of UHC staff. A joint technical team is expected to finalize and co-sign a verification report to ensure that all workers under the UHC program are accurately accounted for. This step is seen as crucial in restoring confidence and ensuring transparency in workforce management.
On workforce transition, a special committee was established within the Council of Governors to design modalities for paying UHC workers in line with Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) rates. This move is intended to safeguard workers’ welfare while ensuring that counties can meet contractual obligations until the end of the staff contracts.
The meeting also addressed the issue of SHA reimbursements, which has been a point of concern for county governments. Leaders agreed to launch a Governors’ Dashboard that will track Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) claim payments. Importantly, it was resolved that all claims will now be settled by the 14th of every month, providing counties with predictable cash flows to sustain healthcare services.
Ambulance and emergency evacuation services were another focus area. Leaders agreed to hold further consultations to align these services with devolved functions as outlined in the Constitution. This approach will ensure that counties play a more direct role in shaping and delivering emergency healthcare solutions.
On career progression, the Public Service Commission was urged to withdraw existing guidelines that were developed without county input. Future frameworks will be expected to incorporate consultation and factor in the cost of implementation within equitable revenue allocations.
The resolutions highlight a renewed commitment by both national and county governments to work together in building a responsive, transparent, and sustainable healthcare system that serves all Kenyans.
