Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, has emphasized the government’s dedication to improving the quality, safety, and equity of healthcare delivery across the country.
In a recent televised address, the PS spotlighted a landmark legislative initiative the proposed Quality Health Care and Safety Bill as a transformative tool designed to uphold patient rights, enhance care standards, and rebuild public trust in the health system. She reiterated that access to quality healthcare should be a universal right, not a privilege enjoyed by a few.
The Bill is set to institutionalize clear quality and safety benchmarks in healthcare delivery, introducing mechanisms to hold facilities and professionals accountable. It is also expected to establish patient safety protocols and regular performance evaluations, ensuring that healthcare services meet consistent standards nationwide.
In tandem with legislative reforms, the PS also shed light on broader structural changes under the Social Health Authority (SHA). These include streamlining service delivery, promoting transparency in health insurance administration, and ensuring that healthcare is more people-centred and inclusive. The SHA reforms are directly aligned with the government’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage, seeking to reduce inequalities in access and improve efficiency within the system.
On matters of disease preparedness, she noted Kenya’s improved ability to detect and respond to emerging threats such as Mpox. She stressed that public awareness, timely surveillance, and improved hygiene remain the frontline defenses against such outbreaks, reinforcing the importance of community cooperation in public health protection.
A key part of the reforms includes empowering Community Health Promoters (CHPs), whose grassroots-level engagement is vital in promoting preventive healthcare. CHPs play an essential role in educating the public, encouraging hygiene practices, supporting early health-seeking behavior, and bridging the gap between marginalized communities and formal health services.
Collectively, these efforts signal a new chapter in healthcare delivery one focused not only on curing illness but also on preventing disease, protecting rights, and building public confidence in the system. The reform agenda aims to create a resilient health sector that delivers timely, high-quality care for every Kenyan, regardless of income or location.
