Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale has urged Kenya’s medical community to move beyond resilience and embrace smart, connected, and inclusive health systems. He stated this is opportune as the nation implements comprehensive healthcare reforms through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Addressing the 53rd Annual Scientific Conference of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA), Duale emphasized that the organization is not merely a stakeholder but “the foundational conscience and our most strategic partner” in the transformation process. He congratulated KMA on its recent elections, highlighting that the smooth leadership transition “demonstrates the institutional maturity and democratic strength of this association.”
The Cabinet Secretary outlined four pillars driving the reforms: sustainable health financing, integrated digital health information systems, health products and technologies, and human resources for health. He highlighted the transition from NHIF to the Social Health Authority (SHA), reporting that “as of yesterday, April 14, 2026, we have successfully registered 30.4 million Kenyans and collected Ksh 169.19 Billion across all funds while disbursing Ksh 124.53 Billion.”
Regarding digitalization, Duale referenced the implementation of the “Taifa Care” system and the geo-fenced Practice 360 App, calling it “an absolute game-changer” for reducing fraud and improving facility management. He also announced investments totaling Ksh 6.18 Billion through the National Equipment Support Project (NESP) to install modern diagnostic equipment in 120 county facilities.
Acknowledging existing challenges, Duale admitted that reimbursement delays under SHA have strained healthcare facilities but assured that the government is “actively accelerating reimbursements and enhancing verification systems to address these backlogs, inject liquidity back into hospitals, and restore provider confidence.”
We cannot build a resilient health system on the backs of a frustrated workforce. He revealed that a new Health Care Workers Policy is being developed to establish rights, protections, and sustainable frameworks for medical interns.
The conference theme, Beyond Resilience: Building Smart, Connected, and Inclusive Health Systems, aligns with the government’s efforts to modernize healthcare delivery and regulation.