Home » Draft Health Financing Strategy Presented to National Economic and Social Council
On 13th February 2010, the Draft Health Financing Strategy was presented to the National Economic and Social Council, the highest public organ advising the Government on policies and strategies towards the realisation of Vision 2030 and the first Medium Term Strategy (MTP 2008- 2012). The high level meeting was attended by Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, the two Ministers for Health, Hon. Beth Mugo and Hon. Anyang’ Ny’ong’o, Dr. Klaus Hornetz, Sector Coordinator, German Development Cooperation in Health, Prof. Narang’o, GTZ consultant among others. The German Development Cooperation, through GTZ and KfW, are providing technical and financial support to facilitate the development of the Strategy.
The Ministries of Health made the following proposals to NESC regarding the Health Financing Strategy.
- Kenya moves towards universal health coverage through social health protection;
- All Kenyans must belong to a health plan;
- Health needs of poor and vulnerable Kenyans be catered for through direct government support and subsidy
- A health benefits regulatory authority for the sector be established; and
- Contributions to national health insurance be proportionate to income.
The National Economic and Social Council approved the first three recommendations but rejected the recommendation that “Contributions to National Health Insurance be proportionate to income†on grounds that this is an additional tax, which the country is not ready for at this moment in time.The decisions by NESC represent a key milestone, an indication that Kenya is drawing closer to a health financing strategy that seeks to ensure affordable, accessible quality health care.
See attachment for details of the meeting- Results of the NESC Meeting - 12-13 Feb.doc
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