NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 8 – Seventy per cent of Kenyans accessed the public health care system in amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase from the previous record of 49-53 per cent, a new study has revealed.
The increase in hospital visits as reported in an Infotrak survey conducted between December 2020 and mid-2021 however revealed challenges ranging from inadequate medical equipment and drugs with 53 per cent of respondents citing the resource gap as a concern.
Amnesty’s Campaign Manager Diana Gichengo, present during the unveiling of the survey explained noted that the systematic under investment in public health care and neglect has led to the near collapse of Kenya’s public health care system, leading to a health crisis that has now been laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As per a recent study, 3 per cent of Kenyans lack national protection for health costs and about 1.5 million Kenyans are pushed into poverty each year as a result of paying for healthcare,” said Gichengo.
The survey noted that this crisis that has morphed over the years is deeply embedded in policy decisions that Kenya has made over the years regarding the provision of health care services, and further compounded by failure to prioritize and adequately resource the public health care system to meet the growing health care needs of Kenyans.
-The effects of COVID-19 on Kenya’s healthcare system-
The survey indicated COVID-19 pandemic had had adverse effects not only on Kenya’s healthcare system but the socio-economic effects have been significant.
While most Kenyans spend less than Sh10,000 annually on healthcare for themselves and their extended families, only 1 in 5 admit to having health insurance.
The inadequate number of facilities and lack of resources for the treatment of COVID-19 has been startling with hospitals and medical personnel stretched to the limit.
“Per patient overall, the costs range from Sh21,359 per day for an asymptomatic patient, Sh21, 651 for ones with mild symptoms and Sh24,651 for those who have severe and critical complications per day. For those in ICUs, these costs are passed on to the patients to pay out of pocket. Counties need to effect cost effective intervention plans and mobilize resources and deploy these interventions in a way that enhance the health system, that includes equitable access and quality protection,” the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers General Secretary, George Gibore, explained.
On attainment of the Right to Health, the survey noted that at both the national and county government had initiated efforts towards attainment of universal healthcare.
However, the State has largely fallen short, with public hospitals remaining understaffed and ill equipped, a situation that has often resulted in industrial action by medical workers.
“A new health policy was adopted in 2013 and it is associated with the 2010 constitution and counties long term development agenda, the health policy embraces this long term vision and has made use of primary health center approach to attainment of human health a provision for all citizens. The national government has rolled out Universal Health Care (UHC) and it was piloted in 4 counties, it has been proved to be working and so I think it will be rolled out in the rest of the counties though it has its share of challenges e.g. financial issues,” Gibore explained.
The challenges quoted in the survey included limited access to health care facilities, lack of adequate personnel and expertise to address different medical needs and poor infrastructure where most health facilities do not have the proper equipment or drugs to handle medical challenges.
“The county and national government need to strike a balance with the healthcare unions and include them in development discussion and implementation decisions that impacts on the healthcare workers, also careful consideration is needed to review the packages of healthcare workers to ensure fairness of bands across the different cadres, creation of conducive working environment to offer quality services as this is essential to improving staff morale and reduce the chances of going on strike,” said the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa Programs Manager Aggrey Aluso.
The survey recommended that these challenges be addressed through a multi-pronged approach involving: multi-stakeholder discussions between both levels of government and key stakeholders in the sector, structured insurance products for health care practitioners, better pay, employment of more healthcare workers, and increased investment (equipping) in the health sector, as well as upgrading health care facilities.
Several measures have been put in place by both the National and County Governments to stave off industrial action by medical workers. These include initiating dialogue, prioritizing specific services and recruitment of medical practitioners on contract among others. However, there have mostly been accusations of high handedness by the authorities.
“Through national dialogue, County government can appreciate the good work of the health system in order to actively think on positive effects and interventions, policies and legislative aspects,” Gichengo noted.
The survey also indicated that Kenyans are still in dire need of public health infrastructure for their healthcare needs.
Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the public health disease burden was to a great extent on pre-existing/chronic health conditions, Malaria and respiratory illnesses.
