Kenya: Cabinet Secretary (CS) Hon. Aden Duale Briefs Parliament on Social Health Insurance Tariff Regulations at Bunge Towers
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale today appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation, chaired by Ainabkoi MP Hon. Samuel Chepkonga, to discuss the Social Health Insurance (Tariffs for Healthcare Services) Regulations, 2025 (Legal Notice No. 56 of 2025). The session was held at Bunge Towers, Nairobi.
During the engagement, Hon. Duale provided a comprehensive briefing on the scope of services covered under the tariff structure, anchored on the three key health funds established under the Social Health Authority:
Primary Health Care Fund – Supports access to preventive and basic healthcare services, with a focus on community-level interventions, disease prevention, and health education.
Social Health Insurance Fund – Provides coverage for essential medical services, targeting routine and necessary treatments to ensure members receive comprehensive healthcare.
Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illnesses Fund – Offers financial protection for high-cost and urgent medical needs, including long-term and specialised care.
The CS also explained the use of means testing during SHA registration to determine eligibility for government support based on income and assets. He highlighted the Lipa SHA Pole Pole initiative—an instalment-based contribution model—and the planned shift from monthly to annual payment cycles to enhance flexibility and compliance.
Hon. Duale reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to good governance, transparency, and robust public participation in the formulation of statutory instruments, in line with the Statutory Instruments Act, Cap. 2A.
He was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga, Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth, and Social Health Authority CEO Dr. Mercy Mwangangi.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Nigeria, Africa bear 25% of global disease burden — Expert
An Executive Consultant with over 25 years of clinical research and data management experience in the United States of America, Dr Bisi Adekoya, has disclosed that Nigeria—and Africa generally—shares 25 percent of the global disease burden. Adekoya, who is the Founder of a clinical research company called NxtCRO, made this disclosure at a symposium titled Clinical Trials in Underserved Populations: Barriers and Strategies for Inclusion, held on Thursday at the University of Lagos. She explained that disease burden comprises deaths (mortality), disability (years lived with illness), economic cost, and overall reduction in quality of life. Similarly, the expert lamented that more than half of pharmaceutical ingredients in Nigeria, and 100 percent of vaccines, are imported. She pointed out that Nigeria is a country at risk if it cannot produce and consume pharmaceutically. 'It has been gathered that Africa shares 25 percent of the global disease burden. 'Disease burden comprises deaths (mortality), disability (years lived with illness), economic cost, and overall reduction in quality of life. 'In the same vein, it is shocking that Nigeria imports 85–100 percent of pharmaceutical ingredients and 100 percent of vaccines (biopharmaceuticals), and 85 percent of marketed medications. 'Nigeria is a country currently at risk if we cannot produce and consume pharmaceutically,' she said. Meanwhile, Adekoya called on the Federal Government to look inwards towards the local production of pharmaceutical products. She also advocated for the conduct of clinical trials within the country and the collection of local data for the survival and advancement of the country's health sector. Copyright © 2022 Nigerian Tribune Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
#YouthMonth: Avian Bell wants to make healthcare inclusive, impactful across Africa
Quantumed's CEO Avian Bell was recently named one of Forbes Africa 's 30 under 30. With a focus on sexual healthcare, personal wellness and safety education, the young CEO is determined to make healthcare more inclusive and impactful across the continent. Following the 2025 Youth Day commemoration, he talks about overcoming obstacles, his impact on future generations and what young people of today can learn from the youth of 1976. You were recently featured in Forbes Africa's 30 under 30 list. Firstly, congratulations! Secondly, how does it feel to be recognised for your efforts? Thank you – it's been an incredibly humbling experience and an honour. This recognition isn't just about me; it's a spotlight on the work we're doing at Quantumed to make healthcare more accessible and impactful. It validates the risks we've taken and the purpose driving our mission. What makes you stand out from other young people in the public healthcare sector? I focus on scalable, practical solutions. At Quantumed, we bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility – bringing essential health tools into communities that need them most, without losing sight of sustainability, impact and relationship-oriented service. What sort of challenges, if any, are there for young people in the public healthcare sector? How have you overcome them? Funding, being underestimated because of age and regulatory red tape are probably the biggest common hurdles we collectively share. I've overcome them by staying persistent, building a strong loyal support network and letting results speak louder than age. Admittedly, the regulatory red tape is still a thorn in my side, but we will get there. What kind of impact do you hope to leave for future generations in the industry? I hope to leave a blueprint – a path that shows young Africans they can lead, innovate and succeed in healthcare without compromising ethics or vision. If I've helped open that door and even lead the way, I've done my part. How can the industry help to alleviate the growing unemployment rate? Public healthcare is full of opportunity. By supporting local manufacturing, health education, small enterprise development and reducing the red tape will definitely help generate jobs while improving public health outcomes, it's a win-win. Finally, what can the youth of 2025 learn from the youth of 1976? Don't be afraid. They taught us that courage has no age, courage creates new pathways and courage writes the future. Their fight gave us the freedom to build and has allowed us to pave a way where we can all work together. Now, it's our turn to lead with purpose and create the future they dreamed of, and I have no doubt that the youth of today is the youth that is making this happen. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Zawya
4 days ago
- Zawya
Why Africa's path to vaccine self-reliance is tough but necessary?
Four years after the Covid-19 pandemic exposed Africa's vulnerabilities in health product access, the Africa CDC is leading a push to manufacture 60 percent of the continent's vaccines locally by 2040. The Local Manufacturing Coordinator at Africa CDC, Dr Abebe Genetu Bayih, spoke to Pauline Ongaji on the challenges, strategies, and the critical role of political will and regional solidarity in shifting Africa from dependency to health sovereignty. What specific lessons did Covid-19 teach African health institutions like the Africa CDC?Covid-19 showed us the danger of dependency. Even with money in hand, we couldn't access vaccines or diagnostics due to export bans and nationalism. That's why the African Union declared: 'Never again.' This was the seed for the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) and our push for local production. It's about control, dignity, and saving lives in real time. But four years on, Africa still produces less than one percent of its vaccines. Why is progress so slow despite the urgency?We're not starting from scratch. Covid-19 opened our eyes. The issue isn't just about factories — it's about ecosystems. Vaccine production is capital-intensive, technically demanding, and tightly regulated. Many African governments invest less than 15 percent of their national budgets in healthcare — far below the Abuja target. Add weak regulatory systems and limited clinical trial infrastructure, and you see why local production has struggled. But things are changing. We now have a clear roadmap and growing political alignment. Is local manufacturing really viable given Africa's financial constraints and small pharma market?It's not just viable — it's necessary. But viability hinges on creating demand through pooled procurement and government commitments to 'Buy African.' We're also working with development banks to unlock tailored financing through initiatives like the $1.2 billion AVMA fund and AfriExim's $2 billion facility. Manufacturers can't invest without predictable buyers. Political will must translate into purchasing power. Africa CDC has identified eight priority vaccines for local manufacturing. Why these eight?These eight vaccines — including pneumococcal conjugate, measles-rubella, malaria, and HPV — are chosen based on disease burden, feasibility, and regional demand. These antigens also represent a strategic opportunity for building manufacturing capabilities that can scale. They are critical to proving that African-made vaccines can meet WHO standards and serve regional needs. Read: Enough is enough! It's time for Africa to produce its own medicinesLet's talk regulation. How is Africa CDC addressing the perception and trust gap in African-made vaccines?Perception is a challenge, yes — but so was it for India and Korea once. Trust begins with strong regulatory oversight. We've now supported eight countries to achieve WHO Maturity Level 3. We're also accelerating WHO prequalification timelines by allowing concurrent submissions to national regulators and WHO. This is crucial for global acceptance and procurement eligibility by Gavi, Unicef, and others. Read: Why Indian firms hesitate to make drugs, vaccines in AfricaWhat's being done to solve the human resource shortage in biomanufacturing?Our data shows we'll need 12,500 full-time professionals to meet our 2040 goals — and we currently have fewer than 4,000. That's why we launched the Regional Capacity and Capability Networks (RCCNs). These are local hubs for training, R&D, and regulatory strengthening in five regions. We've already begun running courses — one in Senegal trained 25 experts from 10 countries. But we must scale faster and embed these efforts locally. You've emphasised technology transfer. Where does Africa stand now?Only a handful of companies currently hold proprietary vaccine technologies. For example, we're in talks to bring Mpox vaccine technology to Africa. But successful transfer needs more than goodwill — we need an enabling environment: IP frameworks, workforce, infrastructure. That's why we developed a continent-wide Technology Transfer Strategy and are supporting facilities ready to receive technologies. How is Africa CDC supporting manufacturers beyond technical advice?We offer direct support through coordination, advocacy, matchmaking with financiers, and technical assistance. For example, we helped South Africa's Saphra acquire lab equipment worth $750,000. We also track and update a continent-wide landscape of manufacturers — identifying who's ready, who's breaking ground, and where gaps remain. This data guides our support. Can this strategy extend beyond vaccines to other health products?Absolutely. In 2024, the AU expanded our mandate to include diagnostics, therapeutics, and medical devices. We're building the African Pool Procurement Mechanism (APPM) with Uneca and AfriExim Bank. We're also prioritising products for five disease areas: HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, diabetes, and neglected tropical diseases. This isn't just about pandemics — it's about everyday health. Read: HIV patient testing falls in South Africa after US aid cuts, data showsRealistically, what will success look like by 2030?We aim to reach at least 10 percent local vaccine production by 2025 and see eight vaccines prequalified by WHO between now and 2030. These will be produced by companies in Senegal and South Africa. If we achieve that, we'll be well on the way to our 2040 target. But it depends on continued investment, coordination, and trust from both African institutions and the global community. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (