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Kenyan Minister Lauds NHA Findings

Jan 9 2012

At a recent launch of the 2009/10 National Health Accounts (NHA) report results, Kenyan Minister for Medical Services Hon Anyang’ Nyon’go encouraged stakeholders to utilize NHA findings to shape health financing reform in Kenya.

Permanent Secretary Mary Ngari shares a copy of the NHA report with Head of Mental Division Dr. Kiima during the NHA launch at the Kenya International Conference Centre. On-looking are Head of Family Health Dr. Wamae (left), and Deputy Secretary of Development Adan Ali (right). Credit: Alledia Adams Permanent Secretary for Medical Services Madam Mary Ngari read the minister’s speech in November 2011 citing important findings. Health Systems 20/20 has supported the Kenyan Ministries of Health in its NHA work to track resource flows for health care overall, HIV/AIDS, and reproductive health.

The minister noted that there has been a remarkable improvement in health indicators over the last decade, which may be attributable to increased expenditure in the health sector. An increase in per capita health expenditure from US$34 in 2001/02 to US$42 in 2009/10 is largely due to an inflow of external resources.

While positive in terms of expenditure, reliance on external funding poses a risk in terms of sustainability and issues of country ownership. Although household contribution to health has declined since 2001, about one-fourth of health expenditures were borne by households in 2009/10. Based on these findings, the minister stated that Kenya will mobilize domestic resources and work to initiate programs to reduce household out-of-pocket expenditure.

The minister also noted that a large proportion of health sector funds are now controlled by non-public entities. Hence there is a need to ensure that these funds are earmarked for activities aligned with the national health sector strategic plan. He urged all stakeholders to adhere to the principles of the Code of Conduct, which they signed in 2007 to ensure that ownership, alignment, and partnership is taking place in line with the government of Kenya’s Sector-Wide approach (SWAp) to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Principal Health Economist Maina discussing NHA findings with Head of Preventive and Promotive Health Dr. Odondi. Credit: Alledia Adams Acknowledging the role of key actors in the completion of the 2009/10 NHA, the minister cited the two Ministries of Health, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, and the Health NGOs Network as well as the financial support of USAID, WHO, and the World Bank and the technical assistance of Health Systems 20/20. He welcomed the inclusion of staff from relevant programs in the dissemination and discussion of the NHA findings and urged them to fully utilize findings to inform future annual operation plans.

The minister noted that previous NHA findings had simulated debate on the need for increased health funding by the government of Kenya, the need to explore alternative means of raising domestic resources to reduce donor dependency, and the need for optimizing the use of available resources to increase access to quality health services. The minister encouraged stakeholders to use the NHA findings to continue to guide the debate to provide improved health care services in Kenya.