Advancing Health Sector Reforms: Health Regulatory Consultative Forum

To propel health sector reforms forward, the Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA) hosted a critical consultative breakfast meeting supported by the USAID Uongozi Wa Afya Thabiti project. This gathering saw Board chairpersons and CEOs from Kenya’s thirteen health regulatory bodies unite to synergize their efforts with ongoing reforms to enhance healthcare financing and system responsiveness.

Dr. Timothy Olweny, Chairman of the Social Health Authority, provided an insightful overview of the newly established Social Health Fund (SHF). Dr Olweny emphasized the SHF’s transformative potential in revolutionizing healthcare financing and delivery across Kenya, marking it as a cornerstone of the nation’s health reform agenda.

Central to the discussions was the role of regulatory bodies in the ongoing reforms. Participants highlighted challenges such as infrastructural gaps, human resources, and financial constraints, underscoring the necessity of coordinated efforts. They identified key strategies to enhance integration and efficiency, with Dr Anthony Rena emphasizing, “The need for regular consultations cannot be overstated. We can address our shared challenges and streamline our efforts through these engagements.”

To facilitate this ongoing dialogue, the USAID Uongozi Wa Afya Thabiti project pledged support for monthly meetings to sustain engagement, collaboration and coordination of health regulation and oversight for quality health services. Grace Makau, Governance Advisor, affirmed, “We are committed to supporting these monthly meetings to ensure continuous dialogue to strengthen health sector regulation and oversight as key aspects of governance.”

The USAID Uongozi Wa Afya Thabiti project aims to fortify health governance and foster strategic partnerships to optimize resources, ensure equity, and enhance quality within Kenya’s health system. It is specifically tailored to support the KHPOA and thirteen health regulatory bodies, strengthening each regulator’s institutional capacity to perform its regulatory roles. This includes strengthening regulatory bodies’ governance structures while promoting collaboration and cooperation among them to address critical challenges in healthcare financing, service delivery efficiency, and system responsiveness.

The USAID Uongozi Wa Afya Thabiti project’s backing of these consultative meetings marks a crucial step in Kenya’s health sector reform journey. By creating a platform for sustained interaction, the project aims to seamlessly integrate health sector reforms into the regulatory framework, enhancing the overall responsiveness and sustainability of the health system.

Ms. Mary Muriuki’s dedication to collaborative reform efforts underscores the Ministry of Health’s commitment to achieving tangible health outcomes. This partnership is set to drive effective policy implementation, ultimately benefiting Kenya’s healthcare landscape.

Author: Nkatha Koranya, Communications Officer, Amref Health Africa in Kenya