Health PS challenges medics to guide health policy

Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga has acknowledged the role of the medical community in guiding health policy, saying policymakers rely heavily on experts knowledge to make the right decisions.

Speaking during the opening of the 42nd annual scientific congress of the Kenya Cardiac Society (KCS) in Mombasa, the Dr Oluga urged health experts to come up with accurate data that would influence policy and enable the sector get enhanced funding amid limited resources in the country. 

“We do not have the kind of knowledge that you have… but the decision to do the right thing is political, ” he told the cardiologists and researchers. 

The PS revealed that cardiovascular diseases account for 10 per cent of deaths in Kenya, with 25 per cent of the population currently living with hypertension. 

He called for smart investment to realise Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC), amid shrinking donor funding and rising health demands. 

Dr Oluga said the government is working on how to best allocate limited resources to achieve maximum impact, noting that over Sh7 billion is spent annually on dialysis alone. 

“We must ask ourselves; what investments will give us the greatest dividends?” He posed. 

The PS emphasised that health financing, human resources, commodity security and digitisation are key in the UHC journey and hence the health sector should compete for allocation of resources. 

He said with the recent Sh6.9 billion reduction in donor support from the Global Fund, Kenya was now accelerating efforts to finance its health priorities through domestic means. 

“We must mobilise more local resources—either by paying taxes or contributing through the Social Health Authority (SHA). We are moving toward self-reliance,” he said. 

KCS President Bernard Samia assured that the Society will enhance its complementary role to increase knowledge among clinicians and the general public on cardiovascular diseases such as diabetes and hypertension and also compile data that would help policymakers to allocate more resources to the health sector. 

“We are going to educate clinicians and the general public on the cardiovascular diseases. We are also going to process evidence to help policymakers in the allocation of resources,” he said. 

Dr Samia said that KCS will also encourage clinicians to adapt technologies including artificial intelligence to boost access to medical services even in the remote areas.

Head of non-communicable diseases at the Ministry of Health Gladwell Gathecha decried low level of knowledge on the risk factors of diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. 

“There is low level of knowledge on risk factors like smoking, alcohol use and unhealthy diets at the grassroots,” Dr Gathecha said, urging health professionals to help in educating the general public to reduce the burden of the diseases.  

Dr Oluga said Kenya must ensure that all citizens have access to skilled health professionals. 

He called for stronger linkages between universities and the health sector to produce more competent workers and ensure their equitable distribution to health facilities. 

To strengthen commodity security, the PS urged greater investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, with the goal of increasing domestic production from 23 per cent to 50 per cent. 

He emphasized the need for better alignment between prescription practices and procurement decisions to enhance patient experience. 

“Patients should receive what they need, and what we produce must reflect that demand,” he said. 

The PS underscored the role of digitisation in driving evidence-based policymaking, improving efficiency, and enhancing patient care.

“Data helps us deploy resources more effectively and allows patients to move through the system more smoothly. Right now, the fact that a patient has to see nine people before getting a proper diagnosis is unacceptable,” he noted. 

Dr Oluga said digitisation, particularly through SHA, will also support population-level health interventions and guide future investments.