By KPC Reporter
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has urged Kenya’s medical fraternity to move “beyond resilience” and embrace smart, connected, and inclusive health systems.
This, he said, is timely as the country undertakes sweeping healthcare reforms under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Speaking at the 53rd Annual Scientific Conference of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), Duale emphasized that the association is not just a stakeholder but “the foundational conscience and our most strategic partner” in the transformation journey.
He congratulated KMA on its recent elections, noting that the seamless transition of leadership “is a testament to the institutional maturity and democratic strength of this association.”
The CS outlined four pillars driving the reforms: sustainable health financing, integrated digital health information systems, health products and technologies, and human resources for health.
He highlighted the transition from NHIF to the Social Health Authority (SHA), reporting that “as of yesterday, 14th April 2026, we have successfully registered 30.4 million Kenyans and collected Ksh 169.19 Billion across all funds and disbursed Ksh 124.53 Billion.”
On digitalization, Duale pointed to the rollout of the “Taifa Care” system and the geo-fenced Practice 360 App, describing it as “an absolute game-changer” in curbing fraud and streamlining facility management.
He also announced investments worth Ksh 6.18 Billion under the National Equipment Support Project (NESP) to install modern diagnostic machines in 120 county facilities.
Acknowledging challenges, Duale admitted that reimbursement delays under SHA have strained facilities but assured that government is “actively accelerating reimbursements and strengthening verification systems to clear these backlogs, inject liquidity back into your hospitals, and restore provider trust.”
“We cannot build a resilient health system on the backs of a frustrated workforce.”
He revealed that a new Health Care Workers Policy is under development to define rights, protections, and sustainable frameworks for medical interns.
The conference theme, Beyond Resilience: Building Smart, Connected, and Inclusive Health Systems, aligns with the government’s push to modernize healthcare delivery and regulation.