Presiding over the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Outspan Teaching and Referral Hospital (OTRH) in Nyeri, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga emphasized that sustainable health financing, robust local research, and a highly skilled, compassionate workforce are pivotal to advancing Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda.
Dr. Oluga stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in healthcare funding, highlighting the key role played by the Social Health Authority (SHA) in enhancing provider reimbursements and strengthening financial stability across the sector.
Commending the integrated model of the Outspan Academic and Healthcare Ecosystem encompassing both OTRH and Outspan Global University Dr. Oluga underscored how uniting clinical practice, medical education, and innovation decentralizes specialized services, ensuring quality care is accessible to communities without requiring long-distance travel.
He called on medical training institutions to instill technical competence, integrity, and patient-centered empathy in future professionals, while advocating for increased investment in locally driven health technologies to bolster national health security against global supply chain disruptions.
Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to protecting households from catastrophic medical expenses and preventing avoidable deaths, the Principal Secretary backed Outspan’s ambition to achieve Level 6 status as a fully-fledged university teaching and referral hospital.
The event culminated in the launch of the landmark OTRH and Outspan Global University Strategic Plan 2026–2035 a 10-year roadmap focusing on expanding specialized services, research, and digital health initiatives.
Attended by key dignitaries including EAC Principal Secretary Dr. Caroline Karugu, Outspan Global University Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Mbugua, OTRH Executive Director Dr. Geoffrey Kiruhi, and Medical Superintendent Dr. Peter Murimi, alongside public and private sector leaders the Silver Jubilee marked Outspan’s transformation from a small outpatient clinic in 2001 into a leading regional healthcare and academic center.
