Health financing reform in Kenya - assessing the social health insurance proposal
Date
2007Author
Carrin, G
James, C
Adelhardt, M
Doetinchem, O
Eriki, P
Hassan, M
van den Hombergh, H
Kirigia, J
Koemm, B
Korte, R
Krech, R
Lankers, C
van Lente, J
Maina, T
Malonza, K
Mathauer, I
Okeyo, TM
Muchiri, S
Mumani, Z
Nganda, B
Nyikal, J
Onsongo, J
Rakuom, C
Schramm, B
Scheil-Adlung, X
Stierle, F
Whitaker, D
Zipperer, M
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Kenya has had a history of health financing policy changes
since its independence in 1963. Recently, significant preparatory
work was done on a new Social Health Insurance Law that, if
accepted, would lead to universal health coverage in Kenya
after a transition period.
Questions of economic feasibility and political acceptability
continue to be discussed, with stakeholders voicing concerns
on design features of the new proposal submitted to the
Kenyan parliament in 2004. For economic, social, political
and organisational reasons a transition period will be
necessary, which is likely to last more than a decade. However,
important objectives such as access to health care and avoiding
impoverishment due to direct health care payments should
be recognised from the start so that steady progress towards
effective universal coverage can be planned and achieved.
Citation
S Afr Med J. 2007 Feb;97(2):130-5Publisher
Department of Pediatrics, University of Nairobi,
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10377]