An Appraisal of the implementation of the UHC policy in Nyeri County: challenges and policy options

Abstract

Access to quality health care remains a challenge to many Kenyan citizens. The Government of Kenya has adopted a universal recommendation to implement the UHC program. However, nothing is known if the provision and access is evenly affordable to every Kenyan. Secondly nothing is known about government capacity to fund the program, provide adequate human resource, infrastructure and other health commodities necessary for provision of health care services. Although the program was piloted in four counties, there is no evidence to show that it was successful. The study adopted an exploratory research design where research participants were selected purposively. Data was then collected using an interview schedule and analyzed using content analysis where themes were aggregated and interpreted. The study documented the findings in four categories namely the current status of UHC Implementation, the challenges of UHC, the global best practices for UHC Intervention and the recommendations. The study found out that UHC is currently being implemented under the Social Health Insurance Act. The study also found out that inadequate health financing, inadequate human resource and the shortage of medicines in public hospitals during the pilot phase of the UHC program in Nyeri County was a barrier to the implementation of UHC. The findings also revealed that in Kenya there was a common goal to ensure accessible, equitable and affordability of health care services through for instance free maternal health care, free primary health care services, free cancer medication among others. The study further found out that citizens have to make monthly contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund in order to access health care services and proposed that UHC services should be budgeted for in the same manner that education was budgeted for in the national budget. The findings suggest that UHC is a commendable approach to provide health care services despite the limitations currently facing the health care system in Kenya and Nyeri County in particular. The implication is that there is need for more funding and further research.