Kenya strives to reach universal health coverage through public-private partnerships

In Kenya, on 20 and 21 November 2015, the Ministry of Health (MoH), county governments and high level representatives from the private health sector agreed to work together through public-private partnerships to achieve universal health coverage in Kenya. These key leaders in the Kenya health sector reached this agreement during a two-day high level forum on private sector engagement in health – the first of its’ kind under the devolved system of government. The Ministry organized this forum, with support from development partners – World Bank Group, USAID, UKAID, GIZ and PharmAccess Foundation – for over 170 participants in Naivasha from 19th – 21st November, 2014. The goal was to acknowledge the private sector’s contribution to national health goals, discuss how to strengthen dialogue and coordination between the two main actors in health, and to identify partnership opportunities that will address the health challenges confronting the health sector in Kenya.

The Forum brought together a wide range of actors in health and other social and governance sectors representing both the public and private sectors. It was yet another watershed event in the development of the country’s health sector particularly in the area of private sector engagement to improve health outcomes. National and County Governments recognize the private health sector’s role and contribution and participants support public-private dialogue and engagement at both national and county levels. The need for continued and structured dialogue and engagement between the two sectors was addressed and there was consensus that well-structured and accountable public private partnerships (PPPs) are beneficial to the health sector and healthcare consumers. Agreement on new and innovative health PPP’s in addition to current ongoing projects were made.

At the end of the Forum, the World Bank presented the inaugural global Howard Award for Innovation in Public Private Dialogue (PPD) to the Cabinet Secretary Mr. James Macharia on behalf of the Ministry of Health, regulatory bodies, and the private sector. Kenya received the award in recognition of the sector’s efforts to achieve reforms in the area of improving patient safety and quality of care through the development of the Joint Health Inspections Toolkit.

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