The Ministry of Health and the National Treasury, in collaboration with the United States Government, have agreed to form a joint Technical Working Group to strengthen the country's healthcare systems.
According to the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, the group will focus on establishing new strategies, including sustainable health financing, to streamline the country's healthcare system, which has been under intense scrutiny in recent weeks.
The decision was made after CS Mbadi, Health's Aden Duale, and other officials from the two ministries held a meeting with a delegation from the US Government, including Brad Smith, Senior Advisor, Rebecca Bunnell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, James Maloney, Director of the Office of Health Programs, and Matt Wollmers on Wednesday, August 26.
"CS Mbadi reaffirmed Kenya’s appreciation of the longstanding Kenya–U.S. relationship and proposed the establishment of a joint technical working group bringing together the National Treasury, the Ministry of Health, and U.S. Government agencies," Treasury said in a statement.
"Looking to the future, both sides expressed confidence that continued collaboration will ensure U.S. support makes a lasting, transformative difference to the health and well-being of all Kenyans," it added.
Mbadi confirmed that the partnership would further strengthen the long-standing diplomatic ties between the two countries, particularly in the health sector, where it has helped Kenya improve malaria and HIV disease surveillance.
For his part, CS Duale confirmed that the partnership would play a key role in accelerating the digitisation of health systems, speeding up the delivery of UHC, tackling unqualified medical practitioners and combatting fraud within the Social Health Authority (SHA).
"Discussions centred on sustainable health financing, strengthening critical health sectors, and advancing UHC through strategic partnerships. A key focus was joint action against global health threats under the Global Health Security (GHS) framework, with Kenya identified as a priority country for enhanced cooperation," the Ministry of Health stated.
The move follows mounting uproar over a multi-billion-shilling scandal at SHA, including suspected irregular disbursements, including payments to ghost facilities.
In a statement on Monday, August 25, Duale uncovered massive fraud at SHA, with investigations uncovering disturbing trends, including upcoding, falsification of medical records, converting outpatient visits into inpatient admissions, and phantom billing for non-existent patients.
A day later, the SHA Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Mwangangi, announced the suspension of 45 hospitals across the country through a gazette notice, which were involved in fraudulent activities.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 48 (6) of the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, the Social Health Authority hereby gives notice to the public of the suspension of the health facilities set out in the Schedule below," the gazette notice read.
"In accordance with the provisions of the Social Health Insurance Act, the health facilities set out in the Schedule shall not be entitled to any benefit from the Social Health Authority during the period of their suspension," it added.
