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The Council of Governors has introduced a financial procedure manual for county health spending units aimed at improving financial management and accountability within the health sector.
During the launch at Movenpick Hotel, Principal Secretary (PS) for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary Muthoni, emphasized that every Kenyan has the fundamental right to access high-quality healthcare, including reproductive services and emergency care.
However, she pointed out that while the demand for affordable and quality healthcare services in Kenya has grown over the years, adequate funding to meet these needs has not kept pace.
The PS noted that counties play a crucial role in delivering healthcare services, as the Kenyan Constitution mandates that county governments manage primary and secondary healthcare.
She referenced laws like the Facilities Improvement Financing (FIF) Act, which ensures financial autonomy for health facilities, and the Social Health Insurance (SHI) Act, which establishes funding mechanisms for these facilities.
“The introduction of the FIF manual is a significant step toward enabling counties to mobilize domestic resources for health. It will drive improvements in healthcare quality, enhance the performance of public health facilities, and foster competitiveness. To achieve this, counties must invest in training health facility managers to effectively manage FIF funds,” she added.
She also stressed the importance of training County Health Management Teams (CHMTs), Community Health Assistants (CHAs), and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) on the new framework. Additionally, she called for fast-tracking the registration of Kenyans under the new health scheme and the implementation of SHI Act regulations.
“It is our responsibility, alongside all stakeholders, to ensure that every Kenyan has access to affordable, high-quality healthcare. The Ministry of Health is committed to providing leadership and governance to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Kenya’s broader health sector goals,” she said.
Governor Ahmed Abdullahi of Wajir County and Chairperson of the Council of Governors noted that the ongoing UHC reforms have fundamentally changed how healthcare is delivered, bringing about significant improvements.
He explained that the manual and related training will strengthen county health management units by enhancing leadership skills and promoting better governance.
“UHC reforms have brought radical changes, such as making hospitals independent spending units. This change requires improved resource management and accountability at the facility level. Already, 43 out of 47 counties now allow health facilities to retain revenue they generate and reinvest it into services,” he said.
The transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA) has been promising, with over 5,300 public health facilities now registered, licensed, and operating under SHA. Counties have also helped register 14.8 million members, providing them with access to tax-funded healthcare at Level 2 and 3 facilities.
“Counties are fully committed to making UHC a success and ensuring that every Kenyan has access to quality healthcare. It is essential that stakeholders work together to implement the manual and its practices across all counties,” concluded the CoG chairperson.
