Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Monday participated in a special session of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), chaired by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, as the national and county governments stepped up efforts to strengthen collaboration on healthcare financing, workforce management, and the continuity of services.
The meeting reviewed key issues affecting the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with a particular focus on the transition of health workers, the settlement of Social Health Authority (SHA) claims, and measures to ensure uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services across all 47 counties.
The Council reviewed the transition of 7,789 UHC workers to permanent and pensionable terms a move expected to provide greater job security and stability for healthcare workers while strengthening the workforce supporting the government’s UHC agenda.
The government has allocated KSh8.6 billion to facilitate the transition, including statutory employer contributions. The allocation is also intended to safeguard salary payments and ensure that healthcare services continue without disruption during the transition process.
Furthermore, the meeting reviewed progress in the settlement of SHA claims across the counties, with disbursements currently standing at 78 per cent. According to the figures presented, KSh159.3 billion has so far been paid to healthcare facilities under the new health financing framework. An additional KSh3.63 billion has been paid to 3,058 health facilities against verified obligations inherited from the former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The discussions come as the government continues to manage the transition from NHIF to SHA while addressing outstanding financial obligations to healthcare providers, which remain critical to maintaining the availability and continuity of medical services.
This special IBEC session forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance coordination between the national and county governments, ensuring that health financing, staffing, and service delivery priorities are implemented in a coordinated and sustainable manner.
The government reaffirmed that continued collaboration between both levels of government remains essential to strengthening Kenya’s healthcare system and ensuring that the Universal Health Coverage agenda translates into reliable, accessible services for citizens across the country.
