𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐒 𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐟𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞

BY ERIC ABUGA

Health Cabinet Secretary  Aden Duale convened a high-level consultative meeting with private healthcare providers and senior management of the Social Health Authority (SHA) to deliberate on strategies for strengthening health service delivery.

The Consultations are aimed at scaling up the roll-out of Kenya’s Taifa Care Model and focused on ensuring continuity of services during the early phases of the Social Health Insurance (SHI) rollout, including capacity building on the new system and addressing outstanding NHIF debts. 

Duale assured stakeholders that the government will commence repayment of pending NHIF bills amounting to Sh 5.3 billion, prioritising hospitals owed between Sh 1–10 million. To safeguard public resources, an independent committee will verify all claims above Sh 10 million before settlement.

Key action points agreed upon included the appointment of SHA relationship managers for contracted facilities, establishment of a joint SHA–DHA service desk at SHA headquarters and Huduma Centres, and real-time communication on policy amendments.

The CS further underscored the government’s commitment to fully incorporate private providers and faith-based organisations (FBOs) in the County-to-County Taifa Care rollout, creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration to accelerate access to effective, affordable healthcare nationwide.

During a panel session, the CS highlighted reforms underway to fast-track Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, noting the central role of the private sector and the importance of timely payments by SHA for long-term sustainability.

The meeting brought together private hospital providers from seven counties; Kajiado, Embu, Machakos, Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyeri, and Kirinyaga representing 103 healthcare facilities. 

The CS was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, DHA CEO Eng. Anthony Lenayara, KMPDC CEO Dr. David Kariuki, and other senior Ministry officials.