The government and the Catholic Church have taken steps to reinforce their partnership in delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC) nationwide, with a focus on strengthening services provided by faith-based health facilities.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale met with Catholic Bishops Cleophas Oseso and Norman Wambua to discuss practical measures aimed at improving access to healthcare at the community level.
Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) operate over 263 health facilities in Kenya, making them key players in the country’s public health framework.
During the meeting, Duale and the Bishops addressed operational, financial, and regulatory challenges, including delays in claim processing and reimbursement that affect service delivery.
To enhance coordination, the Social Health Authority (SHA) outlined a new framework that includes county-level relationship desks, regular technical clinics, and the deployment of 94 operational officers across all 47 counties.
These measures are intended to provide continuous support to health providers and ensure faster resolution of service-related issues.
Duale highlighted the importance of integrating technology to serve vulnerable populations.
“We are exploring ICT-enabled biometric solutions to improve healthcare access in regions with limited connectivity,” he said, according to his official statement. These efforts are designed to enhance service delivery for elderly patients and other marginalized groups.
The consultative session also featured a briefing from the SHA on payment processes, claim rejections, and disbursements, underscoring transparency in public healthcare operations.
In addition, the CS updated the Bishops on the Kenya–US health cooperation initiative, which focuses on disease surveillance, data sharing, diagnostics, and workforce training to strengthen public health security.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga, SHA CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, KMPDC CEO Dr. David Kariuki, and the SHA management team attended the meeting.
Officials emphasized that collaboration with the Catholic Church and other FBOs is vital to expanding UHC reforms and ensuring equitable access to medical services across Kenya’s urban and rural counties.
The discussions mark a continuation of Kenya’s broader effort to achieve UHC, a commitment included in the government’s health policy frameworks and previously supported through partnerships with faith-based institutions.
By institutionalizing structured support for FBOs, authorities aim to strengthen frontline healthcare delivery while addressing longstanding operational challenges