Financing universal coverage in Kenya A case study
Journal Title: International Journal of Biomedical Research - Year 2015, Vol 6, Issue 10
Abstract
Introduction: One of the challenges to maintain an agenda for universal coverage and equitable health system is to develop effective structuring and management of health financing. Global experiences with different systems of health financing suggest that a strong public role in health financing is essential for health systems to protect the poor. Health systems with the strongest state role are likely to be more equitable and achieve better aggregate health outcomes. Using Kenya as a case study, this paper seeks to evaluate the progress and capacity of a middle income country in terms of health financing for universal coverage, and also to highlight some of the key underlying health systems challenges. Methodology: The World Health Report 2010: Health Systems Financing: The Path to Universal Coverage was used as the framework to evaluate the Kenyan healthcare financing system in terms of the provision of universal coverage for the population, and the Kenyan National Health Sector Services Fund Accounts (2011) provided the latest Kenyan data on health spending. Measuring against the four target indicators outlined, Kenya fared modestly with total health expenditure close to 4.5% of its GDP (3.75%), out-of-pocket payment below 40% of total health expenditure (30.7%), comprehensive social safety nets for vulnerable populations, and a tax-based financing system that fundamentally poses as a national risk-pooled scheme for the population. Results: Nonetheless, within a holistic systems framework, the financing component interacts synergistically with other health system spheres. In Kenya, out-migration from public to private of public health workers particularly specialist doctors remains an issue and financing strategies needs to incorporate a comprehensive workforce compensation strategy to improve the health workforce skill mix. Health expenditure information is systematically collated, but feedback from the private sector remains a challenge. Conclusion: As far as Service delivery is concerned, there is a need to enhance financing capacity to expand preventive care, in better managing escalating healthcare costs associated with the increasing trend of non-communicable diseases. Additionally, health financing policies need to instill the element of cost-effectiveness to better manage the purchasing of new medical supplies and equipment. Good governance and leadership are needed to ensure adequate public spending on health and maintain the focus on the attainment of universal coverage, as well as making healthcare financing more accountable to the public, particularly in regards to inefficiencies and better utilization of public funds and resources.
Authors and Affiliations
Jackson Songa, Dorcus Wandera, Rose Ayugi, Ambrose Muthaura
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP420028
- DOI 10.7439/ijbr.v6i10.2577
- Views 101
- Downloads 0
Bacterial pathogens in semen culture and their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in vitro
Background: Bacterial infections have been recognized with infertility, bacteria are capable of agglutinating and immobilizing spermatozoa. The aim of present study was to determine bacterial pathogens in semen culture f...
Sarcomatous lesions of Mediastinum - An unchartered territory: A tale of two case reports
Various primary and metastatic malignant lesions can occur in the mediastinumandmay cause diagnostic dilemmas in achieving definitive diagnosis. Synovial sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm predominantly affecting soft tissu...
Systemic Mastocytosis- A Case Report
Mastocytosis is a rare heterogenous disease characterized by the presence of excessive number of mast cells in various organs mainly in skin and bone marrow. .The incidence was 1 in 1,000 to 8,000 patients. It can follow...
Arm span is a good predictor for Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and Forced Expiratory volume (FEV1) in healthy children aged 8 to 12 years
Spirometry is the method of choice for evaluation of pulmonary function tests in adults and in children as well. Some dynamic pulmonary functions like forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at the end o...
Issues and Controversies Concerned to the Practical Ethical Discourse of Biotechnology
Over the past decade the biotechnological world has changed the way we lived and emerged from the research laboratory to the market and has reached to the consuming public and government. The biotechnological advancement...