In the year 2009, when the government established the Hospital Management Services Fund (HMSF), the health facility management boards at the facility level were replaced by management committees through Legal Notice No. 155 of the Government Financial Management Act.
Subsequent to the establishment of the Hospital Management Services Fund (HMSF) the Ministry of Medical Services (MOMS) embarked on a process to strengthen the management and governance systems through building the capacity of the newly appointed Hospital Management Committees across the country. This included the gazettement of the National Hospital Services Committee (NHSC) at the national level and of the Hospital Management Committees (HMCs) at the hospital level. The NHSC was gazette on 22 January 2010 and inaugurated on 6 May 2010 while the HMCs were gazetted on 1 April 2010. The next step undertaken by the Ministry of Medical Services with the support of Development Partners was the formulation of the Governance Guidelines for Hospital Management Committees and inducting these committees into their new roles. At the initial stage, the Ministry of Medical Services received funding from USAID through the Management Sciences for Health (MSH) to develop the guidelines, conduct training of trainers at the provincial level across the Country and produce a national rollout plan and budget. GIZ participated and provided technical input into the development of these guidelines.

During the national roll out of these guidelines, GIZ provided substantial resources to the Ministry of Medical Services towards the induction of the Hospital Management Committees. To date approximately 1553 members of Committees from 161 hospitals have received training and approximately 1032 members of Committees from 107 hospitals are yet to be trained. GIZ financed the training of 600 members of committees from 62 hospitals.

Family planning is one of the most cost effective measures to reduce maternal mortality.  It is therefore a key factor to consider for Kenya to achieve her Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 target on reduction of maternal deaths. Currently, the unmet need for family planning stands at 26% according to the latest Kenya Health and [...]

Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 aims to improve maternal health and has two areas of focus; reduction of maternal mortality by 75% as well as achieving universal access to reproductive health by 2015. Kenya has had some progress on these goals but considerable effort is required towards the MDG 5 goals. The Division of Reproductive [...]

The Health Sector  Committee met on 7th April, 2011 where discussions on the progress made in the draft health financing strategy characterized the meeting. It was noted that the strategy now awaits cabinet approval; nevertheless, the Ministry of Medical Services is already implementing some of the concepts outlined in the draft strategy for example health [...]

A Joint Mission consultant team on harmonizing reproductive health support has, among other things, recommended that a Reproductive Health strategic investment plan covering both the public and the private sector be developed. The plan will highlight gaps which will allow the Division of Reproductive Health provide leadership and advice on the priorities which require support. [...]

A sector wide approach, which brings together government, development partners, and other stakeholders, is crucial for harmonisation and coordination that leads to effective and efficient achievement of health sector goals. This is especially crucial if Kenya is to make requisite progress to achieve Millennium Development goal 5 on reduction of maternal mortality. A stronger more [...]

“In view of the recently released KDHS 2008/09 results, the slow progress in attainment of reproductive health goals is of great concern. This calls for the  need for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to build strategic partnerships to improve reproductive health services at both institutional and programme levels,” Dr. Shiphrah Kuria, Acting Head DRH, the [...]

Some leading health systems and policy analysts:  Dina Balabanova, Martin McKee*, Anne Mills, Gill Walt and Andy Haines, have been reviewing the challenges faced by those who try to strengthen health systems.

GTZ-Health Sector Programme led the initial process for the formulation of a Business Plan for the Department of Primary Health Services (DPH) in the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MoPHS).

The GTZ Health Sector Programme in Kenya is supporting evidence based decision making in the health sector. To this end it avails information that helps to translate research findings into policy or strategic actions.