In fact, while execution for the other three is still being planned, the UHC pilot in Isiolo, Kisumu, Machakos and Nyeri counties was launched by the President in December 2018. Utilizing a public-private approach, the county has partnered with PharmAccess for technical assistance. President Uhuru Kenyatta says the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) project is now being rolled out to all 47 counties. Kenya’s plan for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is moving closer to realisation with the enrolment of 43 counties following a successful two-year piloting in Kisumu, Isiolo, Machakos and Nyeri counties. The national UHC pilot started on the 12 December 2018 and will run through to October 2019, at which point the Kenyan Government will undertake a review of progress made in order to determine in and how the national UHC package would need to be updated ahead of roll out to the remaining 47 counties. The Government of Kenya launched the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Pilot Program dubbed Afya Care – Wema Wa Mkenya that will enable Kenyans to access affordable healthcare without financial hardship. When we have that then we’ll have an encompassing law that will look at areas like financing,” said Dr. Nyikal, who is also Seme MP. Refugees, migrant labourers, drug users, older persons, sex workers and persons living with disability are listed in the portal as categories of people who are yet to enjoy quality and affordable healthcare. The health benefit package, under the Universal Health Coverage programme beneficiaries will come from Kisumu, Isiolo, Nyeri and Machakos counties. By Gatonye Gathura. 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In December 2018, Kenya will launch a pilot UHC scheme in four counties: Kisumu, Isiolo, Machakos and Nyeri. “This reform agenda will include repositioning and transformation of NHIF as a strategic purchaser in the context of UHC and reforms in KEMSA with the aim of improving the access to medicines and health commodities,” she noted. The new UHC package will benefit at least 3.2 million Kenyans in the four pilot counties and is expected to contain a new bouquet of services accessible in public health facilities. Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sicily Kariuki said the program which is being piloted in the counties of Machakos, Nyeri, Isiolo and Kisumu.has expanded health services to a population of 3.2 million Kenyans, in a period of 12 months and has … “We look forward to cultivating the ideas and experiences that you have gathered from the diaspora, reaffirming our commitment towards meeting the Universal Health Coverage Agenda and ensuring no Kenyan is left behind,” she said. The first, “pilot”, phase, provides access to free health services across public health facilities in four of Kenya´s 47 counties: Kisumu, Machakos, Nyeri and Isiolo. In neighboring Kenya, a UHC hospital insurance pilot project is currently being tested in four counties stricken with high disease burdens, as part of the government’s larger ambition to achieve universal health coverage by 2022. “We need broad legislation based on national policy on UHCfinanced through insurance; a policy that we’re told is in progress but we haven’t seen it. Kenya: Counties Carry Heavy Burden as UHC Pilot Phase Comes to an End. Among the possible areas of public private partnerships the CS highlighted, includes collaboration to increase access to health services by leveraging on the use of technology such as provision of telemedicine and medical education through e-learning; investments in the field of diagnostics in particular diagnostics in cancer, Heart disease, interventional radiology and radio-oncology which are essential to Kenya. A representative sample of 1200 respondents was interviewed in 24 counties. Here in Kenya, the government launched the pilot phase of Universal Health Coverage in December 2018 in Isiolo, Machakos, Nyeri and Kisumu counties. One of the major challenges identified so far has been the demand for c… In late 2018, Kenya’s national government unveiled a pilot program in four counties — Kisumu, Nyeri, Isiolo and Machakos — to expand access to health care and reach UHC by 2022. The UHC pilot will be rolled out in the four Counties of Isiolo, Kisumu, Nyeri, and Machakos before it is finally scaled up to cover the rest of the country. “Utilization of these investments can save time and reduce distance travelled to facilities.,” the CS argued. Terms of Reference – UHC Research in Kenya 3. In line with the primary health care focus, Kenya’s UHC would scale up services for immunization, family planning, antenatal and postnatal care. President Uhuru Kenyatta says the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) project is now being rolled out to all 47 counties. Other counties where the UHC pilot programme is being implemented are Machakos, Nyeri and Isiolo. A representative sample of 1200 respondents was interviewed in 24 counties. The national government, the World Bank which has contributed Ksh 2 billion, and other development partners have funded this pilot program. This raises concerns on the effectiveness and long term sustainability of the development assistance funded priorities for UHC. The implementation of the programme has been through Ministry of Health in Machakos, Kisumu, Isiolo and Nyeri which realized increased utilization of health services. Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Sicily Kariuki said the program which is being piloted in the counties of  Machakos, Nyeri, Isiolo and Kisumu.has expanded health services to a population of 3.2 million Kenyans, in a period of 12 months and has provided the Ministry and County governments key lessons to roll it out to the rest of the country. Patients in Nyeri have started charging for medical services that have been free during the pilot phase of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which has ended. President Kenyatta said the UHC pilot phase was a success story through which community volunteers attended to over two million clients, many of who were served in their homes. “The interest by the diaspora to participate in the program confirms that community participation in health is the cornerstone of ‘leaving no one behind,’ she noted. As per the UHC data portal, Kenya still has a long way to go despite its commitment. In late 2018, Kenya’s national government unveiled a pilot program in four counties — Kisumu, Nyeri, Isiolo and Machakos — to expand access to health care and reach UHC by 2022. A one-year pilot programme for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in four counties launched by President on 13 December, 2018 has attained milestone. Telephone: +254-20-2717077 The CS revealed that among key emerging lessons the pilot program has exposed includes the need to reorient the health systems towards a Primary Health Care Approach, the need for a skilled health workforce and interventions that increase their productivity,  and Community Ownership of the UHC Program to ensure the success of the program. A single UHC card covers a household, including all children under 18 years. A single UHC card covers a household, including all children under 18 years. The new UHC package will benefit at least 3.2 million Kenyans in the four pilot counties and is expected to contain a new bouquet of services accessible to Kenyans in public health facilities. All rights reserved. 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