Inter Press Service: Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya through Innovative Financing
Siddharth Chatterjee, U.N. resident coordinator to Kenya

“…In its Vision 2030, Kenya committed to becoming a competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life for all its citizens by 2030. Investing in a quality health delivery system is enshrined in the Vision, an area in which the government has made considerable progress. Revamping the national health insurance scheme to comprise everyone capable of paying premiums, rather than only those in formal employment, has shifted the burden of health care costs from the individual to the collective by raising more money for health care services. Nevertheless, four out of every five Kenyans have no access to medical insurance. That is why Kenya needs to adopt more innovative ways of financing its health care system. … There is no one-size-fits-all health financing solution. And Kenya must continuously adapt in the face of rapid technological changes. … With its technological prowess, a hotspot for innovation, incredible entrepreneurial spirit, and enterprise, Kenya must be at the vanguard on the road to universal health care in Africa” (6/19).