New era in health: Duale launches 6 major reforms as he takes charge of Afya House (2025)

Newly appointed Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has pledged a series of sweeping reforms as he officially assumes leadership at Afya House, the Ministry of Health headquarters.

In a move aimed at addressing long-standing grievances and improving service delivery, Duale, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, outlined six key initiatives during a press briefing following the official handover from outgoing CS Deborah Barasa.

Duale’s announcements come against a backdrop of protests outside Afya House, where Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program representatives from various counties, including Trans Nzoia, Lamu, Meru, and Kwale, voiced their concerns.

Central to Duale’s agenda is the timely settlement of claims owed to hospitals by the Social Health Authority (SHA).

“Moving forward, SHA will settle hospital claims by the 14th of each month, ensuring financial stability for healthcare providers,” Duale affirmed.

He also issued a stern warning to health facilities, stating that those employing unqualified professionals would be barred from receiving SHA payments, aiming to curb substandard medical practices.

In a bid to modernize the healthcare sector, Duale announced the deployment of a national health information system and the restructuring of the National Equipment Service Program (NESP).

“In the digital space, a national health information system has been deployed, with hospital management systems rolling out across counties to enhance service delivery. Additionally, the National Equipment Service Program (NESP) has restructured medical equipment access, allowing counties to pay based on service use rather than upfront costs,” he explained.

To support hospitals, the government has disbursed Ksh25.4 billion for timely service delivery and equipped 107,831 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) with essential kits and smartphones.

Duale also highlighted ongoing efforts to finalize Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations with healthcare unions to improve working conditions.

Regarding the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), Duale revealed that Ksh6.5 billion has been allocated to streamline drug supply and eliminate inefficiencies.

He also announced plans to accelerate the digitalization of all public health facilities, with full implementation expected by October 2025.

To enhance accessibility, a 24/7 Taifa Care call centre (dial 147) has been launched, providing immediate assistance to Kenyans seeking healthcare support.

Duale’s six key pledges include:

1. SHA claims settlement: Hospitals to receive payments by the 14th of each month.

2. Enhanced rebates: ICU and HDU bed rebates increased to Ksh28,000 per day, and oncology packages for cancer patients increased to Ksh550,000 per person, effective April 1, 2025.

3. Human resource resolution: Fast-tracking of pending human resource matters within the Ministry.

4. KEMSA efficiency: Aiming for a 90% order fill rate, with Ksh1.5 billion recapitalization and Ksh5 billion credit facility.

5. System optimization: Addressing all system hitches for seamless service delivery.

6. 24/7 Taifa Care call centre: Available via dial 147 for immediate assistance.

Duale’s ambitious reforms signal a new chapter for the healthcare sector as he seeks to address systemic issues and improve service delivery across the nation.