Gilgil: The Office of the President will support the construction of a modern one-stop Level 5 Hospital in Gilgil Sub County at a cost of Sh500 million, with an additional Sh200 million set aside for equipping the facility. This move aligns with the government’s commitment to ensuring quality and accessible health services for all Kenyans, with an emphasis on advancing universal health coverage (UHC) to guarantee equitable access, particularly for vulnerable populations.
According to Kenya News Agency, Dr. Wilson Aruasa, a health advisor in the Office of the President, highlighted that healthcare is a central pillar of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) under the Kenya Kwanza administration. He stated that the government is committed to providing inclusive, effective, and accessible healthcare to all, focusing on four pillars of UHC: health financing, health commodities security, human resources for health, and integrated health information technology.
Speaking at Gilgil Sub County Hospital during preparations for the construction of the modern Level 5 facility, Dr. Aruasa emphasized the government’s progress in healthcare and its strong resolve to achieve UHC for all Kenyans while addressing global health threats. He underscored that every government effort aims at ensuring the dignity and health of every Kenyan, echoing sentiments from the World Health Organization (WHO), which regards Kenya as a leading African role model of health resilience.
Dr. Aruasa challenged the county team to design a future-proof facility meant to serve beyond the next century, highlighting health as an economic investment. He stated, “For every one dollar invested in health, there’s a return of investment of nine dollars in the larger economy.” He further noted that achieving Vision 2030 or the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) necessitates more effective investment in healthcare systems and services.
He argued that health and socio-economic development are intertwined, with equity being both a determinant and a result of success in these areas. Dr. Aruasa pledged the government’s commitment to prioritizing health in the economic recovery strategy and Vision 2030, marking a significant shift in the country’s policy direction by recognizing quality healthcare as a right for all, not just a privilege for the wealthy.
Kenya’s leadership in reforming the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) into the Social Health Authority (SHA) underscores its commitment to universal healthcare. Additionally, the government has launched the Kenya Quality Model for Health Plus (KQMH+) programme to improve care standards in public health facilities, focusing on safety, dignity, and consistency in primary healthcare services.
The advisor explained that KQMH+ aims to strengthen services at the primary care level by bringing together national and county governments, development partners, and frontline health workers. He emphasized that UHC is not just about proximity to facilities or insurance registration but about ensuring reliable and effective care when needed, such as in emergencies.
Dr. Aruasa noted that recent health sector reforms, including the Primary Health Care Act, the Digital Health Act, the Facility Improvement Financing Act, and the Social Health Insurance Act, all enacted in 2023, have created a legal and financial framework to secure resources for health and enhance service delivery at the grassroots level.
