Kenya must build a healthcare system that can finance itself sustainably, develop its own medical solutions and produce professionals who combine expertise with compassion, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga has said.
Oluga said strengthening healthcare financing, investing in local research and innovation and developing a skilled workforce would be critical as the country implements reforms aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He said greater accountability in the way healthcare is financed, coupled with the development of solutions locally, would improve Kenya’s health security and reduce dependence on technologies and products developed outside the country.
The PS said the Social Health Authority (SHA) has a central role in improving healthcare financing, particularly by ensuring healthcare providers receive reimbursements on time.
“Healthcare financing must be anchored in transparency and accountability, highlighting the role of the Social Health Authority (SHA) in strengthening financing and improving reimbursements to healthcare providers,” Oluga said.
He spoke on Monday in Nyeri while presiding over the 25th anniversary celebrations of Outspan Teaching and Referral Hospital (OTRH).
Oluga said Kenya needed to put more resources into research and locally driven innovation to strengthen its ability to respond to health emergencies. He noted that dependence on solutions from other countries could expose the health system to challenges during pandemics and disruptions in the supply of essential medical products and technologies.
The PS said building a strong local research and innovation base would give the country greater capacity to respond to such challenges while supporting a more reliable health system.
Beyond financing and technology, Oluga said Kenya also needed healthcare workers who could deliver services with both technical competence and compassion.
He urged institutions involved in training health professionals to instil responsibility, courage and commitment among students, saying the qualities were important in creating a healthcare system centred on the needs of patients.
Oluga praised the Outspan Academic and Healthcare Ecosystem for bringing together OTRH and Outspan Global University in a model that links healthcare delivery with medical education, research and innovation.
He said the integration of the four areas offered an example of how science, clinical practice and research could work together to improve the quality of healthcare and promote excellence.
The PS also recognised the contribution of institutions such as Outspan in taking specialised medical services closer to communities.
He said the availability of such services outside major urban centres helps reduce the need for patients to travel long distances when seeking specialised and quality healthcare.
The government, Oluga said, would continue working with institutions such as Outspan to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen training for health professionals and promote research and innovation.
He said the government was also committed to protecting households from the financial burden caused by illness and reducing deaths that could be prevented through better healthcare.
Oluga welcomed Outspan’s plan to attain Level 6 status and become a fully-fledged university teaching and referral hospital, assuring the institution that the Ministry of Health would continue collaborating with it as it pursues the ambition.
During the celebrations, Oluga launched the Outspan Teaching and Referral Hospital and Outspan Global University Strategic Plan 2026–2035.
The 10-year plan sets out the institution’s focus on expanding specialised healthcare services, strengthening health professions training and increasing investment in research, innovation and digital health.
It also outlines the planned transformation of OTRH into a Global Reference University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital.
The celebrations marked 25 years since Outspan started operating in 2001 as an outpatient facility. Over the years, the institution has grown into an integrated academic and healthcare ecosystem serving communities in the Mt Kenya region and beyond.
Oluga was accompanied by Principal Secretary for the State Department for East African Community Caroline Karugu.
Those present included Outspan Global University Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Mbugua, OTRH Executive Director Dr Geoffrey Kiruhi, Medical Superintendent Dr Peter Murimi, Bishop Gerald Mureithi, members of the clergy, a representative of the Nyeri County Commissioner, health sector representatives, hospital staff, students and other stakeholders.