There Is A Need To Build Financial Viable And Sustainable Primary Health Care, Says Health CS Nakhumicha
The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Susan Nakhumicha, has said there is a need to build financially viable and sustainable Primary Health Care (PHC) to provide quality health services on an affordable and equitable basis.
Speaking on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the National Cancer Summit 2023, Dr Nakhumicha noted that Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program has identified cancer as a priority focus area to accelerate access to care services with the reduced financial burden.
“In this regard, we have continued to strengthen our primary health care services to offer affordable cancer screening and early detection services critical to early cancer diagnosis,’ she said.
Through collaborations with County Governments, the CS said the Ministry has enhanced access to cancer screening by training primary health workers and distributing screening equipment to health facilities across the country.
She noted that the Ministry has also established ten county chemotherapy centres and three regional comprehensive cancer treatment centres in Mombasa, Nakuru & Garissa to enhance publicly funded treatment services for cancer patients.
“The center of excellence in oncology at the Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital has also been established where cutting technologies such as molecular imaging and cyber knife treatment have been made available for all Kenyans,” she added.
Further, the CS informed that through the government Health Plan, the Ministry has envisioned a chronic disease fund that will further bolster the financing for cancer interventions and stem the capital flight due to medical tourism for cancer services.
She further noted that in recognition of the need for concerted efforts to address the rising disease burden, the Ministry of Health has put in place an elaborate legal and policy framework to guide appropriate cancer control interventions.
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