Working Paper No. 11 of 2004 on a Review of the Health Sector in Kenya

Abstract

Since independence in 1963, Kenya has continued to design and implement policies aimed at promoting coverage of and access to modern healthcare in an attempt to attain the long-term objectives of health for all. On attaining independence, the Government committed itself to providing "free" health services as part of its development strategy to alleviate poverty and improve the welfare and productivity of the nation. The development and expansion of health services and facilities in tenns of spatial coverage, training of personnel, and in tertiary healthcare delivery services since independence has been commendable. Though the physical infrastructure for health provision in Kenya has expanded rapidly, distribution and coverage remains uneven especially in rural areas. Maintenance of public sector health facilities has been a big problem and a major burden for the Ministry; of Health. Healthcare policy reforms have therefore been adopted as a strategy of supplementing government budgets to revitalize healthcare delivery systems.